Injuries force Romanian reshuffle
Monday, August 18, 2003
Article summary
Romania have drafted four newcomers into their squad to face Ukraine in Wednesday's friendly in Donetsk.
Article body
Contra fear
Contra, the Club Atlético de Madrid defender, is sidelined for a month with ankle trouble while striker Ganea suffered a muscle injury playing for Turkish club Bursaspor at the weekend. Contra's injury places a question mark against his availability for Romania's last two UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying matches against Luxembourg on 6 September and against Denmark four days later. Also missing against Ukraine will be Claudiu Raducanu, Florin Bratu, Adrian Ilie, Marius Niculae and Florin Cernat.
New additions
Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu duly handed a first call-up to four players when he confirmed his squad for the Ukraine match on Monday. Included are strikers Daniel Nicolae and Daniel Oprita, of AFC Rapid Bucuresti and FC Steaua Bucuresti respectively, AFC Ajax's midfield prodigy Nicolae Mitea, and Ionut Rada of FC Universitatea Craiova.
Ukraine test
Iordanescu said: "Ukraine's way of playing is not similar to Denmark's, but they are a very good team, with well-known players, so this will be a good test for us." Romania are third in EURO 2004™ Group 2 with ten points from six matches - two behind second-placed Norway and three adrift of Denmark.
Romania squad
Lobont, Stelea, Stoican, Dumitru, Iencsi, Rada, Chivu, Rat, Tamas, Dorinel Munteanu, Soava, Radoi, Pancu, Alin Stoica, Aliuta, Sanmartean, Mitea, Mutu, Oprita, Nicolae.
