Maric magic defeats Romania

Romania 0-1 Croatia

Maric moment 
VfL Wolfsburg striker Maric was playing for the first time alongside brother Marijan in a new-look national team. Croatia coach Otto Baric was missing Niko Kovac, Robert Kovac, Milan Rapajc, Daniel Saric, Dario Simic and Igor Tudor yet the players he sent out responded with a committed display.

Ganea agony 
None more so than goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, who denied Romania's Ioan Ganea with a brave save in the 22nd minute. That proved to be Ganea's last contribution: the VfB Stuttgart forward, who had earlier gone close to breaking the deadlock, subsequently leaving the pitch with a broken jaw. Croatia looked more comfortable after the break, though, and could have doubled their lead when Jarko Leko and Marijan Maric went close in the last ten minutes.

Romania crash again 
A physical game took its toll of victims, with visiting striker Ivica Olic and home defender Mirel Radoi both limping out of the action. However, the main casualty was a Romanian team for whom this was a third straight home reverse following defeats by Greece in a friendly and Norway in the recent UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier. The mood in the home dressing-room was further soured by criticism of the Romanian domestic league by national-team players.

'Popescu destroyed'
Following captain Gheorghe Popescu's decision to quit FC Dinamo Bucuresti and Divizia A, fellow defender Cosmin Contra said: "They destroyed Popescu and the same could happen to all of us." Midfield player Dorinel Munteanu added: "Those of us who might consider coming back to help Romanian football will have to think about the Popescu situation before making a decision."