Tricolorii in Turkey

Victor Piţurcă and the Tricolorii are in Turkey this week, beginning to train up for the Euros. The only competitive match left on the docket between now and June 9th is the May 22nd friendly with Montenegro. Personally, I would have liked to see a bit harsher of a test, but I guess the fact that the Montenegrans beat Norway in their last match makes this one seem a little less of a throw away. Missing from the squad, despite being done with his club season, is Adrian Mutu, who is at home with his wife expecting the birth of their second child. No word yet on when he’ll meet up with the rest of the boys, but if Piţurcă wanted him rested, that certainly seems to be happening. The question now won’t be rest but match fitness and form. The team has announced that they will be heading to Zurich on June 2nd, in preparation for the three group stage matches there, and hopefully a ticket on to either Basel or Vienna for the quarterfinals. There are a couple of minor obstacles in the way (France, Italy, and Holland) but it’s a funny old game, as defending champions Greece can tell you.