Romania ready after reinvention
Tuesday, 17 August 2004
By Paul-Daniel Zaharia
There was much talk of last chances and golden generations at UEFA EURO 2004™. That designation applied to the hosts Portugal but now Romania, back in competitive action this week, are preparing for the passing of their own gilded group.
Successive failures
After failing to reach both the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals and UEFA EURO 2004™, Romania face Group 1 rivals Finland in Bucharest in their opening 2006 World Cup qualifier.
Iordanescu retained
Angel Iordanescu, who led the country to the last eight of the 1994 World Cup and the last 16 four years later as well as to EURO '96™, has been retained despite the narrow failure to reach Portugal. Romanian Football Federation president Mircea Sandu said: "I have full confidence in Iordanescu. He is the best Romanian coach, who has the capacity to take us to the World Cup."
End of an era
However, no players remain from the golden generation that starred in Romania's World Cup appearances of the 1990s. The 36-year-old pair of Bogdan Stelea (clubless) and Dorinel Munteanu (out of sorts at FC Steaua Bucuresti) could have been nominated for the Finland game. That they were not shows that a new era is dawning.
Out of action
Even the members of the next generation - including Adrian Ilie, Iulian Filipescu (both struggling at FC Zürich), Ioan Viorel Ganea and Cosmin Contra - are missing from the squad. In addition, captain Cristian Chivu, striker Nicolae Mitea and defender Cristian Dancia are injured.
New generation
So Iordanescu will build with a team of twentysomethings: goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont (26); defenders Flavius Stoican (27), Adrian Iencsi (29), Mirel Radoi (23) and Razvan Rat (23); midfielders Florentin Petre (28), Mihaita Plesan (21), Florin Cernat (24) and Nicolae Dica (24); and strikers Adrian Mutu (25), Marius Niculae (23), Ionel Danciulescu (26) and Adrian Neaga (25).
High stakes
"We have to obtain a maximum nine points before the match in the Czech Republic on 9 October," warned Sandu. Up next for Romania after Finland is another home assignment against F.Y.R. Macedonia on 4 September, before a trip to Andorra four days later.
Victory target
Iordanescu struck a similarly strident tone, saying: "I don't want to speak about anything other than victory. A win against Finland is vital for us." Especially vital given that the Czechs and fellow EURO 2004™ semi-finalists the Netherlands are in the group.
Mutu goal
But Chelsea FC forward Adrian Mutu, leader of the new generation, is confident. "This generation will prove its strength and the first opportunity will be the match against Finland," he said. "It is enough to have missed two major finals and it is time to prove we are at least as good as the golden generation."