Romania have always managed to underperform at major tournaments. Can they turn this round at Euro 2008?
Owing to the high quality opposition that it presents, Group C had already been dubbed by many as the group of death since the Euro 2008 draw a few months ago. Proposing a rematch of the last World Cup final between France and Italy and throwing in the mix the qualities of high ranking squads Romania and Holland justifies the title for this exciting group.
Holland
Romania eased through their Euro 2008 qualifiers as they lost just once in the end when the games were over and had already managed to virtually qualify as group leaders. Just as the other two Group C contenders Italy and France have had to face each other in the qualifiers for the Euro 2008 competition so did Romania meet Holland, the other Group C squad, in the qualifying stages.
There will therefore be a series of rematches as well in the group of death, and Romania will be heading into theirs confident of the fact that they have not lost to the Dutch in the qualifiers. They held them to a stalemate in Holland and were the better side as they defeated them on home soil.
As a national side Romania have never been very successful with their best results being two quarter-final exits recorded at the American World Cup in 1994 and at the Euro 2000 organized by Belgium and Holland. However, they will take courage from the fact that both results were relatively recent and thus evidence a marked improvement for Romania as a football nation.
The Manager – Victor Piturca
Romania’s national team coach Victor Piturca will want to build upon recent history and seek to at least manage further than the quarter-finals this time at Euro 2008. The group they have been drawn into does not aid such ambitions yet he is confident that the balanced all-round style shown in the qualification campaign can be the key to a historic success for the nation.
The Squad
The team selected have shown themselves strong in both defence and offence. Lobont is an ever-present figure guarding the posts for Romania. From defence Chivu captains a team that primarily seeks to kill off the opponents’ passing game swiftly. The Inter man’s versatility has often pushed Piturca towards employing the defender in a holding midfield role. His place is taken by two Romanian giants Tamas and Goian.
Full-backs push Romanian attacks as well but with great caution. The left side is the preferred attacking side for the team where Mutu and Dica combine well often enough to either finish off the action themselves or supply important balls to striker Marica.
Prediction
Mutu is the key player in this Romanian squad. At 29 he has reached an enviable level of maturity which singles him out as a world class player that can really make the difference for Romania. His season at Fiorentina has accentuated his qualities as both an on-pitch leader and goal scoring talent able to weave the magic at any time to send his companions in goal. He will definitely be an important player in Piturca’s ambitions for Euro 2008.
Nonetheless it also indicates that an opponent able at stopping Mutu will have a great advantage over Romania. Despite coach Piturca insisting on the collective group being the real strength of his squad there is always need of a degree of individual talent to manage success.
Marica and Chivu are two valuable members in this Euro 2008 expedition yet Mutu is on a level of his own when it comes to giving the key pass that decides the game in one’s favour. This might be Romania’s weakness. One that can decide their early elimination from Euro 2008.
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