Romania national football team

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Romania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Tricolorii (The Tricolours)
Association Romanian Football Federation
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Flag of Romania Victor Piţurcă
Captain Cristian Chivu
Most caps Dorinel Munteanu (134)
Top scorer Gheorghe Hagi (35)
Home stadium Stadionul Ghencea
FIFA code ROU
FIFA ranking 12
Highest FIFA ranking 3 (September 1997)
Lowest FIFA ranking 35 (August 2004)
Elo ranking 11
Highest Elo ranking 5 (June 1990)
Lowest Elo ranking 42 (1949, 1960)
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
First kit
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
Second kit
First international
Flag of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia 1 - 2 Romania Flag of Romania
(Belgrade, Yugoslavia; 8 June 1922)
Biggest win
Flag of Romania Romania 9 - 0 Finland Flag of Finland
(Bucharest, Romania; 14 October 1973)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Hungary Hungary 9 - 0 Romania Flag of Romania
(Budapest, Hungary; 6 June 1948)
World Cup
Appearances 7 (First in 1930)
Best result Quarterfinals, 1994
European Championship
Appearances 4 (First in 1984)
Best result Quarterfinals, 2000

The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.

Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.

However, after that performance, they only qualified for 1970, 1990, 1994 and 1998 editions. Their finest hour came at the 1994 World Cup where Romania, led by Gheorghe Hagi, reached the quarterfinals, defeating Argentina in their way before losing to Sweden on penalty shootouts.

At the Euros, Romania's best performance was in 2000 when they advanced to quarterfinals from a group with Germany, Portugal and England before falling to eventual runners-up Italy.

Romania also played at Euro 1984, Euro 1996 and Euro 2008. Their first game of the Euro 2008 championships was an encounter with France. A 0-0 draw with the French resulted in cheers around the stadium from the Romania supporters.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Beginnings

Romania played their first international match on 8 June 1922, a 2-1 win over Yugoslavia in Belgrade, coached by Teofil Moraru.

Several temporary coaches were employed, before Moraru resumed control in August 1924, managing the side for nearly four years. Romania enjoyed some success during the 1930s; manager Costel Rădulescu took them to the first three FIFA World Cup tournaments, a feat matched only by Brazil and Belgium and france.

[edit] World Cups in the 1930s

At the 1930 World Cup, Romania won their first match against Peru, 3-1, with goals from Adalbert Desu, Constantin Stanciu and Nicolae Kovács, before being thrashed 4-0 by hosts and eventual winners Uruguay.

Romania qualified for the next World Cup in 1934 after beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in a repeat of their first international. At the finals, Romania played only one game in a new knock-out format, losing 2-1 to Czechoslovakia in Trieste, Italy, with Ştefan Dobay scoring their only goal of the tournament.

Romania qualified by default for the 1938 World Cup after their qualifying playoff opponents Egypt withdrew. They suffered a shock defeat in the finals in France, losing to minnows Cuba, who, like Romania, had only qualified due to the withdrawal of their qualifying opponents, Mexico. The first match at the Stade Chapou in Toulouse ended 3-3 after extra time, but Cuba won the replay four days later 2-1.

[edit] International Wilderness

Between 1938 and 1970 Romania failed to qualify for any major international tournaments.

[edit] Increasing popularity

[edit] 1970 World Cup

Participation in the World Cup was finally achieved once again in 1970 in Mexico, although qualification came on the back of a 3-0 thrashing by Portugal in Lisbon and two unconvincing draws against unfancied Greece. Angelo Niculescu's promising were given the toughest of draws, in Group 3 with holders England, giants Brazil and Czechoslovakia.

A Geoff Hurst goal gave England a narrow victory in Romania's first match at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara. Chances were improved with a 2-1 win over the Czechs. Despite going behind early to a Ladislav Petráš goal, Romania turned it around after half-time with Alexandru Neagu and Florea Dumitrache scoring to give them two vital points. Even then, only a win over the excellent Brazilians would take them into the Quarter Finals.

There were rumours before the match that Brazil might prefer Romania to progress than World Champions England; Despite beating them 1-0 in their previous match in Guadalajara, the South American giants still viewed England as one of their biggest obstacles to tournament victory. But Brazil played some of the best football of the competition, with Pelé scoring twice and a Jairzinho goal in between. Romania battled bravely; Dumitrache pulled the score back to 2-1 before the break and a late Emerich Dembrowski goal made it 3-2, but they were out.

[edit] 1970s

On 26 September 1973, under new coach Valentin Stanculescu, Romania suffered a significant defeat to East Germany in Leipzig. The East Germans won 2-0 to effectively seal their first ever qualification for the World Cup, which would be held over the border in West Germany. With East Germany scoring a predictable 4-1 win in Albania, Romania were out, despite a huge 9-0 win over Finland in Bucharest.

Romania continued to suffer poor form in the UEFA European Championship. In their qualifying group for the 1976 European Football Championship, they were out-qualified by Spain, despite an impressive 1-1 draw in the away match. Romania failed to win matches, drawing twice with Scotland and Spain and dropping points in Denmark with a dismal goalless draw.

Romania were again beat by Spain for a place in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Despite a 1-0 win in Bucharest, Romania lost a bizarre match at home to Yugoslavia 6-4 having led 3-2 at half time. Spain won 1-0 in Belgrade to seal passage to South America.

[edit] 1980s

Romania's sole successful qualifying campaign was for the European Championships in 1984 in France. At the finals, Romania were drawn with regular rivals Spain, holders West Germany and dark horses Portugal. Under head coach Mircea Lucescu, an encouraging opening game in Saint-Étienne saw them draw with the Spanish. Francisco José Carrasco opened the scoring from the penalty spot but Romania equalized before half time with a goal from Laszlo Bölöni.

Against the Germans in Lens, Marcel Coras scored an equalizer in the first minute of the second half in response to Rudi Völler's opener, but Völler would score a winning goal. Their last match in Nantes was a must-win match, but Nené's late winner meant Portugal progressed with Spain, who netted a dramatic late winner against West Germany at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

Romania stuttered throughout the rest of the decade, but a stronger squad at the end of the decade saw them qualify for their fifth World Cup at Italia 90. A win over Denmark in their last match took Emerich Jenei's side to the finals for the first time in twenty years.

[edit] Gheorghe Hagi's era: the Golden Generation

[edit] Italia 90

Romania's squad was entirely domestic based, despite an increasing trend for the major sides in Italy and Spain buying up the best foreign talent. Midfielder Ilie Dumitrescu, striker Florin Răducioiu and genius playmaker Gheorghe Hagi, then of Steaua Bucharest, were in the squad, but it was forward Gavril Balint who would prove the hero in the first round.

With World Champions Argentina stunned by Cameroon in the tournament's opening match, Romania did their chances no harm with a convincing win over the USSR at the San Nicola in Bari, with Marius Lăcătuş scoring in either half. The result was all the more impressive given the absence of Hagi. There was controversy, however, as Lăcătus's second was a penalty given for a handball by Vagiz Khidiatulin that television replays clearly showed to be some way outside the penalty area.

Romania were the next victims of Cameroon in Bari. Cult hero Roger Milla, 38 years of age, came on as a substitute for Emmanuel Maboang Kessack and scored twice, before Balint pulled one back. Romania needed a point in their last match against improving Argentina at the San Paolo in Naples. Pedro Monzón gave Argentina the lead after an hour, but Balint quickly equalized and Romania held on to reach Round 2.

Against Jack Charlton's Ireland side in Genoa, Romania didn't have the quality to break down a defensive opposition. Daniel Timofte was the only player to miss in the penalty shoot-out - his kick saved by Packie Bonner - and Romania were out. In the process, Ireland became the smallest country ever to progress that far in a FIFA World Cup.

[edit] Euro 92 and USA 94

Romania missed out on Euro 92. Scotland qualified after Romania drew a must-win last match in Sofia against Bulgaria, with Nasko Sirakov's equalizer sealing their fate.

They were successful, though, in reaching another World Cup in the United States in 1994. Despite losing in Belgium and suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat in Czechoslovakia, Romania went into their last match at Cardiff Arms Park with Wales needing a win to pip them to a place in the finals. Goals from Gheorghe Hagi and Dean Saunders meant the game was finely balanced, before Wales were awarded a penalty. Paul Bodin of Swindon Town stepped up but hit the woodwork and Romania went on to win 2-1, Răducioiu's late goal proving unnecessary as Czechoslovakia dropped a point in Belgium and were knocked out.

At the finals, Romania were one of the most entertaining teams in the early stages with Hagi, Răducioiu and Dumitrescu on form. Romania beat Colombia - dark horses and Pelé's tip for the tournament - at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in Los Angeles 3-1. Răducioiu opened the scoring before Hagi scored a spectacular second from wide on the left touchline. Adolfo Valencia shredded their nerves with a headed goal just before half-time, but Romania held on and Răducioiu sealed the win with a late third.

In Detroit's Pontiac Silverdome, the temperature soared due to the greenhouse effect in the indoor arena. Switzerland, acclimatized after having already played the hosts there, outran Romania in the second half and turned a 1-1 half time score into a surprising 4-1 win. Romania responded by beating the hosts 1-0 in Pasadena with an early Dan Petrescu goal.

In Round 2 they faced Argentina, who were shorn of Diego Maradona who was thrown out of the tournament for taking drugs. Răducioiu, suspended, was hardly missed, as coach Anghel Iordănescu pushed Dumitrescu forward to play as a striker and the player responded by scoring twice in the first twenty minutes, one a superbly subtle left foot flick from a right-wing Hagi cross slotted between the Argentine defenders. In between, Gabriel Batistuta scored a penalty, but after half-time Romania netted a superb third on the counter attack, with Hagi beating goalkeeper Luis Islas. Abel Balbo pulled one back, but Romania held on for a shock win.

Romania would suffer penalty heartbreak again, in the Quarter Final against Sweden. With just thirteen minutes to go, a tight match opened up as Sweden's Thomas Brolin scored from a clever free-kick move, the ball passed outside the Romanian wall by Håkan Mild for Brolin to smash in. Iordănescu threw caution to the wind and the returning Răducioiu found a late equalizer, again from a free-kick move but this time down to a deflection and a failure of the Swedes to clear. In extra time Răducioiu scored again after a mistake by Patrik Andersson, but Sweden then scored their own late equalizer as giant striker Kennet Andersson climbed above goalkeeper Florin Prunea to head home a long ball. Prunea had come in after two matches to replace Bogdan Stelea, whose confidence was shattered by the 4-1 loss to the Swiss. In the shoot-out, Dan Petrescu and Miodrag Belodedici had their kicks saved by Thomas Ravelli and Sweden went through.

[edit] Euro 96

In England, Romania arrived as a highly tought-of and popular team but had a nightmare. Iordănescu's side were based in the north east, with their first two games at St James' Park in Newcastle. Against France, they lost to a Christophe Dugarry header reminiscent of Kennet Andersson's two years earlier, beating the goalkeeper to a lofted through ball. A brilliant early solo goal by Hristo Stoichkov saw Bulgaria knock out their neighbours, although Romania claimed they should have had a goal awarded when the ball struck the bar and bounced behind the goal-line. They finally scored in their last game, Florin Răducioiu equalizing an early goal by Spain's Javier Manjarín. Spain had to win to qualify with France at the expence of Bulgaria and did so when Guillermo Amor stooped to head a late winner. Romania exited with no points and little to cheer.

[edit] France 98

Despite a dreadful Euro 96, Romania impressed in qualifying, finishing ten points clear of Ireland and were seeded for the final tournament of the 1998 World Cup thanks to their strong USA 94 showing. Despite being drawn in a group with England, getting through it was perceived to be easy work with a waning Colombia and minnows Tunisia.

Adrian Ilie scored the only goal with a fine chip in their first match against Colombia at Lyon's Stade Gerland. In Toulouse, they met an England side starting with prodigal striker Michael Owen on the bench, with Teddy Sheringham preferred alongside Alan Shearer. A mistake by Tony Adams was punished by Viorel Moldovan, who played for Coventry City, before Owen came on to claim an equalizer. But Romania won with a wonderful late goal from Dan Petrescu, also playing in England with Chelsea, fighting off his club mate Graeme le Saux and nutmegging goalkeeper David Seaman.

Having already qualified, Romania bizarrely decided to bleach their hair before their last match against Tunisia. Despite England v Colombia being the more decisive game, the Stade de France in Paris was an 80,000 sell out and the crowd were nearly rewarded with a shock as Skander Souayeh scored an early penalty to give the north Africans the lead. Romania needed a point to win the group and, crucially, avoid Argentina in Round 2, and got it when Moldovan volleyed a late equalizer. It did them little good, however, as in the Round of 16 match at Bordeaux against the Croatian team, Davor Šuker scored a twice-taken penalty in a poor match and Romania were out.

[edit] Euro 2000

Romania were not expected to progress through a group containing Portugal, England and Germany. Hagi's powers were waning, Dumitrescu and Rǎducioiu were no longer on the scene and hopes were pinned on young Internazionale forward Adrian Mutu. Romania started brightly against the Germans in Liège, with Moldovan scoring from close range. A long-range Mehmet Scholl equalizer meant they had to be content with a point and their position looked shaky after Costinha headed a last minute winner for Portugal in their second match.

Emerich Jenei, back as coach, threw caution to the wind in the last match in Charleroi against England, a match which Romania had to win. Defender Cristian Chivu's cross went in off the post in the 22nd minute but, despite Romania dominating, England led at half-time through an Alan Shearer penalty and a late Michael Owen goal after he rounded Bogdan Stelea to score a tap-in, both in the last five minutes of the half. Romania attacked after the break and were quickly rewarded; Dorinel Munteanu punishing a poor punch from Nigel Martyn, a late replacement for the injured Seaman to equalize three minutes after the re-start. England cracked under the pressure. Unable to retain possession or pose an attacking threat, they fell deep and late on Phil Neville, playing out of position at left-back, conceded a penalty scored by Ioan Ganea in the 89th minute.

Romania's relief was tempered by tough opposition in the last eight, and Italy, who would end up seconds from being crowned European champions in an agonizing final, comfortably saw them off 2-0 in Brussels. Francesco Totti and Filippo Inzaghi scoring towards the end of the first half. In the 35th minute Hagi, in his final international tournament, hit the woodwork with goalkeeper Francesco Toldo stranded off his line and, after the break, was magnanimously sent off for diving. Romania's tournament was over and Jenei left his job as coach again.

[edit] Recent years

[edit] 2000s - Near Misses

Romania failed to qualify for the next three major tournaments. They drew Slovenia, who had been surprise qualifiers for Euro 2000 in a playoff for a place in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. A narrow 2-1 deficit - having led through a Marius Niculae goal - after the first leg in Ljubljana was not irretrievable. With fans' hero Gheorghe Hagi now coaching the side they were confident of getting the win they needed in Bucharest against the Balkan upstarts, but Slovenia took the lead before the hour through Mladen Rudonja. Right wing-back Cosmin Contra quickly equalized but Romania could not find the goal they needed to force extra time and Slovenia, with maverick manager Srečko Katanec, were in a major tournament again.

Romania were confident of qualifying for Euro 2004 in Portugal, drawn in Group 2 with seeds Denmark, Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina and minnows Luxembourg. Despite a good start - a 3-0 win away to Bosnia in Sarajevo, Romania stuttered. Steffen Iversen's late goal gave Norway a surprise win in Bucharest and they were stunned at home by the Danes, 5-2, with Thomas Gravesen scoring a spectacular goal from around fifty yards out, despite leading twice. They recovered slightly, completing a double over the Bosnians and getting a point in Oslo, but conceded a cutting injury time equalizer in Denmark to draw 2-2. It was decisive, as they now required Norway to fail to win at home to Luxembourg to stand any realistic chance of qualifying. Eventually, the Danes got a point in Bosnia to scrape through a tight group, with Norway going to a play-off with Spain.

Romania were put in a massive group for the qualifying tournament for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Holland and Czech Republic were favourite to qualify, then ranked first and second in Europe. Early wins over Finland and Macedonia were unconvincing, and they were some way behind the two leaders by the time they earned a good 2-0 home win over the Czechs. They finished third behind the Dutch and the Czechs and missed out on another major tournament.

Romania were drawn in a group with group favourites Holland and tough opponents Bulgaria for the Euro 2008 Qualifying. However on 17 October 2007, Romania became the fourth team to qualify for Euro 2008. This the team's first big championships since Euro 2000, 8 years before.

[edit] World Cup record

Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
Flag of Uruguay 1930 Round 1 8 2 1 0 1 3 5
Flag of Italy 1934 Round 1 12 1 0 0 1 1 2
Flag of France 1938 Round 1 9 2 0 1 1 4 5
Flag of Brazil 1950 Did Not Enter - - - - - - -
Flag of Switzerland 1954 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Sweden 1958 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Chile 1962 Withdrew - - - - - - -
Flag of England 1966 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Mexico 1970 Round 1 11 3 1 0 2 4 5
Flag of West Germany 1974 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Argentina 1978 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Spain 1982 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Mexico 1986 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Italy 1990 Round 2 12 4 1 2 1 4 3
Flag of the United States 1994 Quarterfinals 6 5 3 1 1 10 9
Flag of France 1998 Round 2 11 4 2 1 1 4 3
Flag of South KoreaFlag of Japan 2002 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Flag of Germany 2006 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - -
Total 7/18 21 8 5 8 30 32

[edit] European Championship

Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
Flag of France 1960 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of Spain 1964 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of Italy 1968 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of Belgium 1972 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of Yugoslavia 1976 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of Italy 1980 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of France 1984 Round 1 3 0 1 2 2 4
Flag of West Germany 1988 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of Sweden 1992 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of England 1996 Round 1 3 0 0 3 1 4
Flag of BelgiumFlag of the Netherlands 2000 Quarterfinals 4 1 1 2 4 6
Flag of Portugal 2004 Did not Qualify - - - - - -
Flag of AustriaFlag of Switzerland 2008 Qualified 1 1
Total 4/13 10 1 2 7 7 14
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
**Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

[edit] Stadium

Main article: Lia Manoliu Stadium
Lia Manoliu, Romania's national football stadium
Lia Manoliu, Romania's national football stadium

The Lia Manoliu Stadium (Stadionul Lia Manoliu in Romanian) was a multi-use stadium in Bucharest, Romania. It was used mostly by the Romania national football team.

The stadium held 60,120. It was built in 1953, for the 4th World Festival of Youth and Students. It was first known as Stadionul 23 August, and later on as Stadionul Naţional (National Stadium). It is now named after Lia Manoliu, a discus thrower who competed at a record six Summer Olympics, winning three medals.

In October 2005, it was decided to rebuild the stadium completely; however, initially no funding was found, so some repairs proceeded in lieu of rebuilding. Later, funds became available and the rebuilding is expected to begin in November 2007. The plan calls for completion of a new five-star arena by April 2010, with further plans to host the 2011 UEFA Cup final. The last football match played was a 6-1 win against Albania on November 21, 2007. After the match, a few seats were removed from the stadium, as a symbolic start of the rebuilding operations. The old stadium will be demolished to make room for a new one.

[edit] 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Flag of France France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Romania Romania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Serbia Serbia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Austria Austria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of the Faroe Islands Faroe Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Flag of Austria Flag of the Faroe Islands Flag of France Flag of Lithuania Flag of Romania Flag of Serbia
Flag of Austria 5 Sep '09 6 Sep '08 10 Oct '09 1 Apr '09 15 Oct '08
Flag of the Faroe Islands 11 Oct '08 19 Aug '09 9 Sep '09 10 Sep '08 10 Jun '09
Flag of France 14 Oct '09 10 Oct '09 1 Apr '09 5 Sep '09 10 Sep '08
Flag of Lithuania 10 Sep '08 15 Oct '08 28 Mar '09 6 Jun '09 14 Oct '09
Flag of Romania 9 Sep '09 14 Oct '09 11 Oct '08 6 Sep '08 28 Mar '09
Flag of Serbia 6 Jun '09 6 Sep '08 9 Sep '09 11 Oct '08 10 Oct '09


[edit] Current squad

[edit] Squad for UEFA Euro 2008

A provisional 26-man squad was named on 14 May 2008 for UEFA Euro 2008. Four players were removed before the final 23-man squad was announced on 28 May:

Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2008.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club
1 GK Bogdan Lobonţ January 18, 1978 (1978-01-18) (age 30) 64 0 Flag of Romania F.C. Dinamo Bucureşti
2 DF Cosmin Contra December 15, 1975 (1975-12-15) (age 32) 64 7 Flag of Spain Getafe CF
3 DF Răzvan Raţ May 26, 1981 (1981-05-26) (age 27) 49 1 Flag of Ukraine FC Shakhtar Donetsk
4 DF Gabriel Tamaş November 9, 1984 (1984-11-09) (age 23) 33 2 Flag of France AJ Auxerre
5 DF Cristian Chivu October 26, 1980 (1980-10-26) (age 27) 60 3 Flag of Italy F.C. Internazionale Milano
6 DF Mirel Rădoi March 22, 1981 (1981-03-22) (age 27) 44 1 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti
7 MF Florentin Petre January 15, 1976 (1976-01-15) (age 32) 50 5 Flag of Bulgaria PFC CSKA Sofia
8 MF Paul Codrea April 4, 1981 (1981-04-04) (age 27) 34 1 Flag of Italy A.C. Siena
9 FW Ciprian Marica October 2, 1985 (1985-10-02) (age 22) 24 8 Flag of Germany VfB Stuttgart
10 FW Adrian Mutu January 8, 1979 (1979-01-08) (age 29) 62 28 Flag of Italy ACF Fiorentina
11 MF Răzvan Cociş February 19, 1983 (1983-02-19) (age 25) 22 1 Flag of Russia FC Lokomotiv Moscow
12 GK Marius Popa July 31, 1978 (1978-07-31) (age 29) 2 0 Flag of Romania Politehnica 1921 Ştiinţa Timişoara
13 DF Cristian Săpunaru April 5, 1984 (1984-04-05) (age 24) 1 0 Flag of Romania FC Rapid Bucureşti
14 DF Sorin Ghionea May 11, 1979 (1979-05-11) (age 29) 10 1 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti
15 DF Dorin Goian December 12, 1981 (1981-12-12) (age 26) 20 3 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti
16 MF Bănel Nicoliţă January 7, 1985 (1985-01-07) (age 23) 21 1 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti
17 DF Cosmin Moţi December 3, 1984 (1984-12-03) (age 23) 2 0 Flag of Romania F.C. Dinamo Bucureşti
18 FW Marius Niculae May 16, 1981 (1981-05-16) (age 27) 31 13 Flag of Scotland Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
19 MF Adrian Cristea November 30, 1983 (1983-11-30) (age 24) 6 0 Flag of Romania F.C. Dinamo Bucureşti
20 MF Nicolae Dică May 9, 1980 (1980-05-09) (age 28) 26 8 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti
21 FW Daniel Niculae October 6, 1982 (1982-10-06) (age 25) 23 5 Flag of France AJ Auxerre
22 DF Ştefan Radu October 22, 1986 (1986-10-22) (age 21) 8 0 Flag of Italy S.S. Lazio
23 GK Eduard Stăncioiu March 3, 1981 (1981-03-03) (age 27) 1 0 Flag of Romania CFR Cluj


[edit] Coaching staff

Head Coach Flag of Romania Victor Piţurcă
Assistant Coaches Flag of Romania Ştefan Iovan
Flag of Romania Gabriel Boldici
Flag of Romania Dan Apolzan
Fitness Coach Flag of Romania Marian Lupu
Team Doctor Flag of Romania Pompiliu Popescu
Masseurs Flag of Romania Roger Popovici
Flag of Romania Victor Hexan
Flag of Romania Ionel Buduga

[edit] Recent call ups

The following players have been called up for the national team since August 2007.

Brackets in front of or above the club show the most recent call up.

Caps and goals correct as of 31 May 2008.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club
GK Dănuţ Coman March 28, 1979 (1979-03-28) (age 29) 9 0 Flag of Romania FC Rapid Bucureşti (Euro 2008 provisional squad)
MF Ovidiu Petre March 22, 1982 (1982-03-22) (age 26) 22 1 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti
MF Ciprian Deac February 16, 1986 (1986-02-16) (age 22) 0 0 Flag of Romania CFR Cluj
FW Florin Bratu January 2, 1980 (1980-01-02) (age 28) 10 2 Flag of Romania F.C. Dinamo Bucureşti
DF George Ogăraru February 3, 1980 (1980-02-03) (age 28) 7 0 Flag of the Netherlands AFC Ajax (v. Russia, 26 March 2008)
MF Marian Aliuţă February 4, 1978 (1978-02-04) (age 30) 4 0 Flag of Romania Politehnica 1921 Ştiinţa Timişoara
DF László Sepsi June 7, 1986 (1986-06-07) (age 22) 1 0 Flag of Portugal S.L. Benfica
GK Răzvan Stanca January 18, 1980 (1980-01-18) (age 28) 1 0 Flag of Romania Dacia Mioveni
FW Ionuţ Mazilu February 9, 1982 (1982-02-09) (age 26) 10 2 Flag of Ukraine FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (v. Israel, 8 February 2008)
FW Gheorghe Bucur April 8, 1980 (1980-04-08) (age 28) 8 2 Flag of Romania Politehnica 1921 Ştiinţa Timişoara
DF Mihai Neşu February 19, 1983 (1983-02-19) (age 25) 4 0 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti
DF Petre Marin September 8, 1973 (1973-09-08) (age 34) 9 0 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti (v. Bulgaria and Albania, 17\21 November 2007)
MF Eugen Trică August 5, 1976 (1976-08-05) (age 31) 4 0 Flag of Romania CFR Cluj
DF Marius Constantin October 25, 1984 (1984-10-25) (age 23) 3 0 Flag of Romania FC Rapid Bucureşti
MF Andrei Mărgăritescu January 1, 1980 (1980-01-01) (age 28) 3 0 Flag of Romania F.C. Dinamo Bucureşti
MF Sorin Paraschiv June 17, 1981 (1981-06-17) (age 26) 4 0 Flag of Romania FC Steaua Bucureşti (v. Luxembourg and Netherlands, 13\17 October 2007)
MF Dorinel Munteanu June 25, 1968 (1968-06-25) (age 39) 134 16 Free Agent (v. Belarus and Germany, 8\12 September 2007)
FW Sergiu Radu August 10, 1977 (1977-08-10) (age 30) 1 0 Flag of Germany VfB Stuttgart
DF Dan Matei June 25, 1981 (1981-06-25) (age 26) 0 0 Flag of Romania Gloria Bistriţa
FW Claudiu Niculescu June 23, 1976 (1976-06-23) (age 31) 10 0 Flag of Germany MSV Duisburg (v. Turkey, 22 August 2007)
MF Costin Lazăr April 24, 1981 (1981-04-24) (age 27) 3 0 Flag of Romania FC Rapid Bucureşti


[edit] Famous players

  • (*) - still active

[edit] Most capped players

As of February 12, 2007, the ten players with the most caps for Romania are:

# Name Career Caps Goals
1. Dorinel Munteanu 1991 - 2007 134 16
2. Gheorghe Hagi 1983 - 2000 125 35
3. Gheorghe Popescu 1988 - 2003 115 16
4. Ladislau Bölöni 1975 - 1988 108 23
5. Dan Petrescu 1989 - 2000 95 12
6. Bogdan Stelea (*) 1988 - 2005 91 0
7. Michael Klein 1981 - 1991 90 5
8. Marius Lăcătuş 1984 - 1998 84 13
9. Mircea Rednic 1981 - 1991 83 2
10. Silviu Lung 1979 - 1993 77 0
  • (*) - Active, but only for club.

[edit] Top goalscorers

As of June 1, 2008, the ten players with the most goals for Romania are:

# Player Career Goals (Caps)
1. Gheorghe Hagi 1983 - 2000 35 (125)
2. Iuliu Bodola 1931 - 1939 30 (48)
3. Adrian Mutu (*) 2000 - present 28 (61)
4. Anghel Iordănescu 1971 - 1981 26 (64)
5. Viorel Moldovan 1993 - 2005 25 (70)
6. Ladislau Bölöni 1975 - 1988 23 (108)
7. Rodion Cămătaru 1978 - 1990 22 (75)
8. Dudu Georgescu 1973 - 1984 21 (40)
9. Florin Răducioiu 1990 - 2000 21 (40)
10. Ştefan Dobay 1930 - 1939 20 (41)
  • (*) - still active

[edit] Past managers


  • The Austrian Josef Uridil is the only foreign manager who coached Romania

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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[edit] See also