History of Romania

Team Overview

With 7 participations in the FIFA World Cup and 4 in the European Nations Championship, Romania is never considered a big threat but the team is able to surprise the big favourites. Romanias best result in an international competition was in 1994 when the team led by Gheorghe Hagi reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup after beating Argentina in the last 16.

History

Early Years

Romania National Football Team played its first official match in 1922 against Yugoslavia. Romania won 2-1 in Belgrade. The team enjoyed relative success in its beginning years having participated in the first three FIFA World Cups. Romania’s first World Cup performances were not exactly what could be called a success. In 1930 the team beat Peru 3-1 but lost 4-0 to host nation Uruguay fell short to move on. In 1934, when the competiton was played in Italy, Romania got knocked out after losing 2-1 in the first game to Czechoslovakia. And in 1938 the team got eliminated by Cuba. The first match ended 3-3 after 120 minutes of football. In the replay match Cuba beat Romania 2-1.

Back after 21 long years

From 1938 to 1969 the Romanians failed to qualify for any international competitions. Romania then qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup but was seeded in one of the toughest groups along with Czechoslovakia, England and Pele’s Brazil. Geoff Hurst’s goal gave England a narrow victory and Romania’s chances were improved after the team beat the Czechs. But only a win over Brazil would give Romania the points they need to qualify to the quarter-finals. It was said that Brazil could make it easier for the Romanians to prevent England from moving on but Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão and the rest of the Brazilian displayed an amazing football and even though Romania fought bravely scoring 2 goals the team fell short after Pele scored twice and Jairzinho once to give Brazil a 3-2 win.

In 1973 Romania obtained its biggest win, 9-0 against Finland during the qualifiers for the 1974 World Cup. But despite the incredible result Romania did not qualify to the final tournament.

Romania also failed to qualify to 1976 Euro and to 1978 FIFA World Cup. In the two occasions Romania lost the spot to Spain. .

Euro 1984

Romania arrived to the final tournament of the 1984 Euro after eliminating World Cup title holders Italy and Euro 80 third placers Czechoslovakia. The team was pretty much unknown as the country was still under the Iron Curtain with midfielder Ladislau Boloni and a young Gheorghe Hagi being the stars of the team. The Romania team didn’t pass the group stage after a tie in the first match against Spain but losing the two next ones against West Germany and Portugal respectively.

The 90’s

The 1990 FIFA World Cup took place in Italy and Romania was seeded in Group B along with the Soviet Union, the African surprise Cameroon and title holders Argentina. Romania’s team was formed exclusively by players who played in the countries team, including 25-year old Steaua Bucharest star Gheorghe Hagi. After a good 2-0 win in the first match against the Soviets, Romania were to face Cameroon. The African team had caused one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Cups by beating title holders Argentina 1-0 in the opening match.

38-year old Cameroonese striker Roger Milla scored twice to beat Romania 2-1 forcing the Romanians to get at least 1 point against Argentina in the last match in order to qualify.

Pedro Monzon scored first for Argentina at minute 63 but five minutes later Gavril Balint tied things up and Romania moved on along with Cameroon and Argentina to the next round of the competition.

Ireland was a tough opponent for Romania in the Round of 16 of the 1990 World Cup. After 120 minutes of goalless football the decision went to the penalty shootout and with midfielder Daniel Timofte missing the last shot Romania was sent back home.

Romania failed once again to qualify to the European Nations Championship in 1992. The team lost the spot to Scotland after a tie with Bulgaria.

1994 FIFA World Cup

A now 29-year old Gheorghe Hagi was accompanied by Florin Radocioiu, Ilie Dumitrescu and Dan Petrescu in a Romanian team that displayed very entertaining football in the group stage. With two wins over Colombia (3-1) and the USA (1-0) and a heavy defeat 4-1 against Switzerland after scoring 5 goals but allowed the same amount Romania still managed to take the first place of Group A just to face Argentina in the round of 16.

More than 90,000 people went to the Rode Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California to watch Romania never lose the lead in the game against Argentina. With two goals by Dumitrescu and one by Hagi, Romania won the match 3-2 and for the first time advanced to the quarter-finals of a World Cup.

Sweden and Romania played 120 minutes of great football, alternating the lead after scoring four goals, two for each side and then, once again, Romania would face the penalty shootout to decide its fate in a World Cup. And once again the team would go home earlier but this time leaving a very good impression and making the fans proud of their Tricolorii.

Yellow Heads

With a disappointing performances in the Euro 96 Romania had only the 1998 FIFA World Cup to regain the prestige of 1994. The team qualified easily for the final tournament in France and was seeded in Group G with England, Colombia and Tunisia. The team that still had Hagi and Petrescu also counted on striker Moldovan to win two games – against Colombia (1-0) and England (2-1) – and tie 1-1 against Tunisia to finish in first place and move on to the next round.

To celebrate the achievement and hoping to get even further the whole Romanian Team showed up for the game against Croatia with their hair dyed in bright yellow, one of the colors in Romania’s flag and the main color of their uniform. The fact was interesting but unfortunately it didn’t avoid Davor Suker to score the goal that gave Croatia the victory over the yellow-haired Romanians.

Hagi’s Farewell

In the Euro 2000 Gheorghe Hagi played his last international tournament. New young talents like Cristian Chivu and Adrian Mutu were blooming and Romania, who were placed in the toughest group of the torunament along with Portugal, England and Germany, managed to qualify from the group stage one point ahead of England but five behind of group winners Portugal. But in the quaterfinals the team could not beat Italy and the two goals scored by Francesco Totti and Fillipo Inzaghi marked the end of Hagi’s career with the Romanian National Team.

Euro 2008

After 8 years of absence from international competitions, Romania qualified for the final tournament of the Euro 2008. The Tricolorii finish as first in their qualifying group, three points ahead of favorites Netherlands. Romania arrives for the final tournament with a much more experienced Adrian Mutu and the will to surprise the big favorites. The team is seeded is a very tough Group C where they will face France, Italy and once again the Netherlands.

Stars of the Current Squad

Cristian Chivu

• Date of Birth: October 26, 1980
• Position: Defender
• Height: 183cm
• Today he is one of the most wanted defenders by the European football clubs. He is now playing in AC Roma in Italy, and previously he was captain of the Dutch Ajax where he became the best foreign defender and he achieved the title for the 2001/2002 season. He is a main player for the Rumanian national team.

Adrian Mutu

• Date of Birth: January 8, 1979
• Position: Striker
• Height: 180cm
• Mutu is the player who most scored and the second captain in the national team. He is considered by many as the best player of his generation. He specializes in free kicks. He was named, in 2005 and 2006, the best player of his country. He now plays in la Fiorentina in Italy.

Bănel Nicoliţă

• Date of Birth: January 7, 1985
• Position: Midfielder
• Height: 175cm
• He has only placed 11 matches with the national team, but they were enough to make him a main choice for his coach. His speed and control for the ball make him a special player for Romania.

Team Legends

Hagi

• Full Name: Gheorghe Hagi
• Date of Birth: February 5, 1965 (1972-08-30)
• Position: Midfielder
• Caps: 125
• Goals: 35

Dan Petrescu

• Full Name: Daniel Vasile Petrescu
• Date of Birth: December 22, 1967 (1945-11-03)
• Position: Defender / Right Wing
• Caps: 95
• Goals: 12

Dumitrescu

• Full Name: Ilie Dumitrescu
• Date of Birth: January 6, 1969
• Position: Forward / Wing
• Caps: 63
• Goals: 22

Munteanu

• Full Name: Dorinel Ionel Munteanu
• Date of Birth: June 25, 1968 (1951-09-05)
• Position: Midfielder
• Caps: 134
• Goals: 16

Popescu

• Full Name: Gheorghe Popescu
• Date of Birth: December 9, 1967 (1960-04-13) (1951-09-05)
• Position: Sweeper
• Caps: 115
• Goals: 16

Moldovan

• Full Name: Dinu Viorel Moldovan
• Date of Birth: July 8, 1972 (1960-04-13) (1951-09-05)
• Position: Forward
• Caps: 70
• Goals: 25

Most International Matches Played

Most Appearances

Most Goals

Player Recognition & Awards

Team Honours

Management

Victor Piţurcă

Piturca is now having his second chance as Romania’s coach. His first was in 2000 when he led the team in the Euro where they only made it to ¼ final and he was dismissed. The other coach’s opinion, Ioan Becali had a lot of influence at the time. Now Piturca seems to have the situation under control and the press on his side.

Uniforms

Home: yellow shirt with blue and red trim, yellow shorts

Away: white shirt with blue and red trim, white shorts

Important Links

• http://www.frf.ro/

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania_national_football_team
• http://www.frf.ro/
• http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/national_team/national_team.shtml
• http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/countries/association=113/
• http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=rou/index.html