Romania
Life after death?
After eight years of frustration from the three consecutive failures to qualify for a major tournament, Romanian fans are now split into two distinct camps. The optimistic ones are dreaming that the national team are the new Greece, capable of winning Euro 2008 against the odds. The pessimistic supporters remember Euro 96, one of Romania’s worst finals performances, when they returned from England without a point and having scored just one goal in their three group matches.
Experienced defender Cosmin Contra falls somewhere between the two views when he says: “If Romania get through the group, everything is possible.”
True, but how realistic is qualification for the knockout stages? “Let’s be honest,” says coach Victor Piturca. “Romania start as fourth favourites in this fierce battle with France, Italy and Holland. We can’t forget that France and Italy have beaten us whenever and wherever they have met us in the past.”
Brighter picture
The picture is a little brighter when it comes to the Dutch. Romania have met them five times in the past five years, losing the first three but then drawing 0-0 away in the Euro 2008 qualifiers and winning the return 1-0.
Piturca believes there will be little to choose between his side and Holland, saying: “Only the form of the moment, an error, an
outstanding performance from one player or another will make the difference.” As for reaching the knockout stages, Piturca says: “We have a chance, even though it is small, and we’ll play as a team that have nothing to lose and everything to win.”
The rewards could indeed be high if the team make it through, given that, as midfielder Razvan Cocis believes, the strength of the group means it could well produce the eventual title winners. He says: “Any team that qualifies from our group would be in the running to reach the Final. If we are still in the race after such a group, we will have the same chances of climbing the peak as anyone else.”
In Romania, the first match, against France, is considered essential for the rest of the campaign. “A positive result in the opener could largely open the doors through the group stage,” says striker Adrian Mutu. “But even a good performance could give us more confidence for the next matches. People have said that we are in a group of death but it is not only Romania but all four teams who will suffer, in every match.”
Skipper Cristian Chivu knows that he and his team-mates must perform at their best in Switzerland if they want to eventually play in Austria, in the Vienna Final. “We know very well that this summer’s finals are one of our generation’s last chances to show that Romania deserves its place among the great European soccer forces,” he says. “But for that, we have to show determination, our well-known group spirit and the sort of good morale that can help us overcome our lack of experience.”
But he adds, with a smile: “And we need a lot of luck, too.”
Interview with Romania coach Victor Piturca
Interview with Romania's Adrian Mutu
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