Romania National Football Team in Euro 2008
Posted by admin on May 14, 2008 in Teams • No comments
Image via WikipediaRomanian national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation. The main sponsor of the team is Bergenbier, a beer produced by InBev.
Romania is one of only four national teams (the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium) to participate in the first three World Cups. However, they then qualified only once between the 1950 and 1986 editions. Romania then had a solid run through the 1990s, advancing to the second round or better in three consecutive World Cups. The period was highlighted by the 1994 World Cup where Romania, led by Gheorghe Hagi, reached the quarterfinals and defeated Argentina 3-2 before losing to Sweden on penalty kicks. In Euro 2000 they drew 1-1 with Germany and defeated England 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual runners-up Italy.
The team has had less success since 2001, narrowly missing qualification for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and also missing out on Euro 2004. Romania is currently ranked 13th in the world. Romania were the fourth team to qualify for the Euro 2008. They were unlucky enough on the December 2nd 2007, to be drawn in Group C of the tournament, nicknamed the ‘Group of Death’, due to France, Italy and the Netherlands, being drawn in the same group.
In the Qualification Round,Romania got the first place over Netherlands in Group G.And now they will struggle in Group C against Italy, Netherlands and France.First match will be 9 June 2008 at 18:00 against France, on Zurich - Letzigrund stadium.
Romanian Team Squad
Goalkeepers: Mircea Bornescu, Dănuţ Coman, Bogdan Lobonţ, Marius Cornel Popa
Defenders: Valentin Bădoi, Cristian Chivu, Marius Constantin, Cosmin Contra, Sorin Ghionea, Dorin Goian, Vasile Maftei, Petre Marin, Gabriel Mureşan, George Ogăraru, Mirel Rădoi, Ştefan Radu, Răzvan Raţ, Dorel Stoica, Gabriel Tamaş
Midfielders: Răzvan Cociş, Paul Codrea, Adrian Cristea,Andrei Mărgăritescu, Dorinel Munteanu, Bănel Nicoliţă, Sorin Paraschiv, Florentin Petre, Ovidiu Petre, Mihăiţă Pleşan, Laurenţiu Roşu, Eugen Trică
Forwards: Florin Bratu, Gheorghe Bucur, Mugurel Buga ,Nicolae Dică, Ioan Ganea, Ciprian Marica, Ionuţ Mazilu, Adrian Mutu, Daniel Niculae, Claudiu Niculescu, Sergiu Radu, Ianis Zicu
Victor Piturca - Manager Of Romanian Team
Victor Piţurcă must be doubly determined to make an impact with his Romania side at UEFA EURO 2008™ given what happened the last time he led his country to a major tournament. Piţurcă guided Romania through qualifying for UEFA EURO 2000™ but missed out on the finals in the Low Countries after he was dismissed from his post in December 1999 following a dispute with some senior players.
‘Big achievement’
Romania have not featured on the big stage since then but Piţurcă, who returned in place of Anghel Iordănescu in December 2004, has done his bit to put that right, making amends for missing out on the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Romania qualified for Austria and Switzerland in style, three points ahead of the Netherlands at the top of their group. “It’s a big achievement to qualify with two games to spare,” said the coach after the 2-0 win against Luxembourg that secured their ticket.
Prolific striker
Born on 8 May 1956, Piţurcă’s playing career included stints with FC Universitatea Craiova, FC Dinamo Slatina, CS Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu and FC Olt before he came to the fore with FC Steaua Bucureşti. During six years there, he won the 1985/86 European Champion Clubs’ Cup and the 1986 UEFA Super Cup and also collected a runners-up medal in the 1988/89 European Cup before leaving for RC Lens in France. Although limited to six goals in 13 international appearances, his record of 165 goals in 301 league games make him one of the most prolific strikers in Romanian football history.
Coaching career
After returning from France, he started his coaching career as an assistant at Steaua in 1991 and he was a senior coach there by 1992 when the club won the Romanian Cup. Piţurcă’s first opportunity as a head coach came at Universitatea Craiova, between 1994 and 1995, before he was then handed the reins of the Romania Under-21 side. In July 1998 he made the step up to the senior national team, but following his dismissal returned to Steaua whom he led to the league title in 2000/01.
Sources:
Romania National Football Team [Wiki]
Victor Piturca [Wiki]
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- Victur Piturca - Manager Of The Romanian Team
