FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°56

Super-confident Croatia aim to continue their remarkably successful World Cup debut when they face Romania in a second-round match here on Tuesday, but their run may be derailed by blond ambition.

Romania, whose players have all dyed their hair metallic gold, are gunning for a second successive quarter-final spot after finishing on top of Group G. The Romanians dyed their hair after a bet with coach Anghel Iordanescu. While they may look comical, their play so far has been deadly serious. Both teams are gifted with technique and tactical nous-they are almost mirror images of each other, which could see them cancelling each other out in a dull midfield stalemate.

Romania rested five starters in their 1-1 draw against Tunisia, but had already sealed their place in the last 16 before that match. The result of the widespread changes was ” disorganisation ” which displeased Iordanescu. The Romanian coach, though, is pleased that his side will play Croatia rather than Argentina.

” The way they play suits us better than Argentina, “ said Iordanescu. ” They play a lot like us and are inspired by the Yugoslav style of game. “ Romania’s strength is that they have several attacking options. Viorel Moldovan, essentially a left-sided player, is their main strike weapon, sometimes in tandem with the mercurial Adrian Ilie, who can pop up where he is least expected.

Playmaker Gheorghe Hagi can be infuriatingly inconsistent, but is always a menace at deadball situations, while Dorinel Munteanu is adept at unleashing dangerous diagonal passes. Defenders Dan Petrescu and Gica Popescu are both threats when they join the attack and it was Chelsea fullback Petrescu who popped up in the penalty area to score Romania’s late winner against England.

” The Romanian players are not all that well-known, but you don’t win matches on reputations, “ said striker Moldovan. Croatia lost their third first-round match 1-0 against Argentina and suffered a blow in that match when sweeper Zvonimir Soldo earned a second yellow card. He will miss Tuesday’s match.

” That could cause us a few problems, “ admitted Croatian skipper Zvovimir Boban, ” but no player is indispensable. “ Goran Juric is expected to replace Soldo alongside Igor Stimac in the backline. Croatia may be playing in the first World Cup finals, but they are a team of considerable experience. Much of their play revolves around the ability of wily striker Davor Suker to hold the ball up in attack.

The Euro 96 quarter-finalists have been written off by many critics, who argue that the core of their team: Suker, Boban, midfielders Robert Prosinecki and Aljosa Asanovic and wing back Robert Jarni are all veterans. Prosinecki has looked slow and predictable during this tournament, but may have one last great game left in him.

The Croatians will be looking to finish the match off in regulation time because it appears likely the Romanians will have the youngers legs if the game goes into extra-time, even allowing for the veteran status of players like Hagi and goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea.