Moldova await Hungary test

Moldova coach Viktor Pasulko has named a full-strength squad for a friendly game with Hungary on 27 March.

Full-strength squad
Pasulko has been able to choose from all of the strongest players who play domestic football in Moldova as well as some more famous names that play abroad like striker Sergiu Clescenco who has achieved success in the UEFA Cup this season with Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

International retirement
The only major name missing from the squad is that of veteran midfield player Ion Testmitanu who has announced his retirement from the national side after signing for a club in the Korean Republic.

Surprise choice
The biggest surprise in Pasulko's first serious opportunity to have a look at his squad's capabilities ahead of qualification for EURO 2004™ is his decision to call up Alexandr Golban who plays for Moldovan first division side FC Dacia Chisinau.

Maltese disappointment
The coach, who took charge of the national side in February, was not able to select his strongest squad for Moldova's appearance in a friendly tournament in Malta in February after two clubs in the Divizia Nationala - FC Sheriff Tiraspol and FC Zimbru Chisinau - refused to release their players.

Limited opportunities
Pasulko admitted that only two or three players from the squad which played in Malta were likely to receive further international call-ups.

Moldova squad
Romanenco, Hmaruc, Catinsus, Olexic, Covalenco, Sosnovschi, Rebeja, Andronic, Epureanu, Covalciuc, Boret, Ivanov, Comleonoc, Rogaciov, Clescenco, Pogreban, Barburos, Patula, Berco, Golban