FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Marshalled by General Anghel Iordanescu the Romanians march on France for their seventh appearance in a World Cup finals.

Down to the last eight in America four years ago, Romania are in for a tough time in the opening round with England and Colombia in their group.

Qualification posed no serious difficulty with Romania enjoying a clear run up to their final game when they drew 1-1 with Ireland.

Sweeper Gheorghe Popescu, five times voted Footballer of the Year, was in good form during the qualifying stages and his eight goals made him top scorer.

Popescu plays at Galatasaray alongside Romania’s most famous footballing son Gheorghe Hagi, whose deadly left foot can wreak havoc in even the tightest of defences.

Indeed, it was Hagi’s virtuoso performances that almost carried Romania into the last four in USA 94. And his form will be crucial to how Romania do in France 98.

Dan Petruscu is also likely to be a key cog in Iordanescu’s cup assault. The 30-year-old Chelsea defender will be keen to erase painful memories of that missed penalty against Sweden in the United States.

Big things are also expected from the versatile frontman Adrian Ilie, now with Real Sociedad after a short stint at Galatasaray. In goal Salamanca’s Bogdan Stelea is now a regular feature of Iordanescu’s game plan, with Florian Prunea also called into battle in the run-up to France 98.

Iordanescu, reflecting on his team’s three straight defeats in Euro 96, claimed his men were “a little unfortunate”, and declined critics’ calls to make wholesale changes, saying: “To my mind it was not necessary.”

With a fair chunk of the team veering on the veteran side Iordanescu will be keen to call on the services of Denis Serban, the young precocious midfielder playing with seasoned striker Marius Lacatas at Steaua Bucharest.