FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Romanian coach Anghel Iordanescu has rejected pressure to boot goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea out of the World Cup squad for making an obscene gesture during a friendly match. Iordanescu said Sunday ahead of the squad’s departure for France that Stelea would be “severely punished in an appropriate manner” for his actions during the match against Paraguay on Wednesday, but ruled out any thought of leaving the Spanish-based player out of his World Cup plans.

Romania beat Paraguay 3-2 on Wednesday in a lacklustre performance that earned them jeers from Romanian fans.

The squad finished off their World Cup preparations here Saturday by hammering Moldova 5-1, but Stelea, who plays for Spanish club Salamanca, was left on the substitute’s bench throughout the game. Romania are in group G of the World Cup along with England, Colombia and Tunisia and play their opening match against the South Americans in Lyon on June 15.