Romania falls 2-1 to Croatia

Victor Piţurcă’s România lost a well played friendly to Croatia 2-1 in Bucureşti Wednesday evening. Weighed down with considerable injuries the Tricolorii used the friendly as a tune-up match, debuting Dacian Varga (Sportul Studenţesc) and Costel Pantilimon (FC Timişoara) in their first international appearance as well as clearing up weak tactical points.

Defensive marking was extremely sound early as Croatia could not break through the disciplined România side. At the twenty-second minute România took the lead as Răzvan Cociş (Lokomotiv Moscow) played Ciprian Marica through with the VfB Stuttgart striker pounding the ball behind Croatia ‘keeper Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow). However the lead was short-lived as Ivan Rakitić (Schalke 04) struck a swerving free kick from over thirty-five meters that fooled România ‘keeper Bogdan Lobonţ (Dinamo Bucureşti)

At the break Mihai Neşu (FC Utrecht), George Ogăraru (Steaua Bucureşti) and Bănel Nicoliţă (Steaua Bucureşti) entered the match for the Tricolorii along with Gheorghe Bucur (FC Timişoara) for Florin Costea (FC U Craiova) on the hour and Alexandru Bourceanu (Oţelul Galaţi) for Paul Codrea twelve minutes later. After a tightly played half with few notable scoring opportunities Heerenveen’s Danijel Pranjić corner wasn’t cleared properly and Niko Kranjčar (Portsmouth) sent the loose ball in. In the later stages of the match both Costel Pantilimon (FC Timişoara) and Dacian Varga entered and gained valuable experience with the match concluding with a 2-1 defeat.

România returns to action in a crucial match against Serbia next month.