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Piturca names 26-man Euro squad

May 15th, 2008 | By: Ian Rose | 19 Comments »

As the squad lists trickle in for Euro 2008, we now have a first look at who will line up for the Tricolorii on June 9th against France, and in their other two (and hopefully more) European Championship matches. No huge surprises here, and I doubted there would be. It’s a solid group, and since their last match together was a 3-0 victory over fellow Euro side Russia, what would be the argument for change? There are, of course, some injury worries, especially centering around striker Ciprian Marica, who has picked up a training ground injury that is sounding worse with each report. If Marica misses the Euros, it will be hugely disappointing, of course for him, but also for the side. I haven’t been shy about my wishes to see Marius Niculae get some more time, but I would hate to see it happen at the expense of a player like Marica. Get better, Ciprian.

Despite the fact that Steaua Bucharest and the other big city sides have lost out for the first time in anyone’s memory to CFR Cluj for the Romanian Liga title, the side is still dominated by Bucharesti players. 12 players on the roster hail from the city’s three clubs. Uncapped Ciprian Deac is the one player from Cluj who earned his way onto the squad. With the attacking midfield options all getting a bit longer in the tooth, it’s nice to see a young player being given a shot.

There are still three cuts to be made before the final 23-man roster is announced. Let’s hope that by then Ciprian Marica is healthy, Mutu is back from his fatherly duties, and Piturca gets to choose him strongest roster, instead of having injuries make the choice for him.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), Danut Coman (Rapid Bucharest), Marius Popa (Politehnica Timisoara).

Defenders: Cristian Sapunaru (Rapid Bucharest), Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest), Sorin Ghionea (Steaua Bucharest), Cosmin Moti (Dinamo Bucharest), Cosmin Contra (Getafe), Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre), Stefan Radu (Lazio), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk).

Midfielders: Florentin Petre (TSKA Sofia), Paul Codrea (Siena), Razvan Cocis (Lokomotiv Moscow), Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan), Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest), Ovidiu Petre (Steaua Bucharest), Nicolae Dica (Steaua Bucharest), Banel Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest), Ciprian Deac (CFR Cluj), Adrian Cristea (Dinamo Bucharest).

Forwards: Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Daniel Niculae (Auxerre), Marius Niculae (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Florin Bratu (Dinamo Bucharest).

Tags: EURO 2008, Romania, Roster, Tricolorii

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Comments

By tomasz | May 15th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

May be a hard time for Niculae to get in front of other strikers, although I don’t know much about Bratu. As far as I know Dica and Nicolita can play up front as well.

Posted from Poland

By Ian Rose | May 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come on as a sub at least once in the group stages, but we’ll see. The thing I’m most curious about is if Deac can get some time and break the Bucharest stranglehold on the national side.

By Darth | May 16th, 2008 at 7:21 am

I would certainly prefer Deac instead of Nicolita, the latter has being playing awful football for more than one and a half years. But Deac is still very young and would be something like Walcott at WC2006 was.

By Mike | May 16th, 2008 at 9:21 am

It’s actually a blessing in disguise that Marica is injured, everytime he plays it’s horrible. Daniel Niculae is 10x the player, and Marius Niculae 5x. It says something when a striker has only scored 3 times an entire season at Stuttgart. Good ridance I say! Only thing left is to ditch that stupid Ov. Petre and we’ll be set!

Posted from Canada

By SoccerZip | May 17th, 2008 at 5:59 am

I think this is the best “eleven”:

Lobont - R.Rat, D.Goian, S.Radu, C.Contra - C.Chivu, M.Radoi, B.Nicolita, N.Dica, F.Petre - A.Mutu

A 4-5-1 formation.

By Mike | May 17th, 2008 at 1:35 pm

What’s surprising to me is that Piturca gives absolutely no attention to Albert Streit (Schalke), why is he not called up?

Lobont - Rat, Goian, Radu, Contra(ogararu) - Chivu, Radoi, Codrea, Streit - A Mutu, D Niculae(M.Niculae)

Posted from Canada

By Ian Rose | May 19th, 2008 at 1:03 pm

Streit has made it clear that even though he has dual citizenship, he wants to play for Germany, not Romania. He’s still hoping for a Germany call, which frankly I think is a long shot.

By Mike | May 19th, 2008 at 10:54 pm

In a recent interview on GSP.ro he said that if Piturca needs him he’s there.

Posted from Canada

By Ian Rose | May 19th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

That’s interesting … last thing I heard, he was still looking for Germany, but if he’s interested in Romania, he’s worth a thought. Piturca might know about his former choice for Germany, though.

By Mike | May 20th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

I doubt Piturca heard of anyone outside of Steaua

Posted from Canada

By Michel-Olivier | May 20th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

i hope they beat france in the opening round.

Posted from United States

By Dan | May 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 am

Romania will make it past the group stage, in second place; my predictions are the following: Romania-France 1-1; Romania-Italy: 0-2; Romania-Holland: 3-1; I will be present at every one of these three games. Best regards, Dan from Indiana.

By Bobo | May 28th, 2008 at 5:17 am

i’m from romania. i want this scores:
holland-romania 0-1, italy-romania 1-1 and france-romania 0-1

By Bobo | May 28th, 2008 at 5:21 am

1 Italy :d
2 Romania :d
3 france :p
4 holland :p
sorry

By Bobo | May 28th, 2008 at 5:21 am

By EuLupu | May 28th, 2008 at 8:35 am

Piturca named his 23 man squad:
Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobonţ (Dinamo), Marius Popa (Poli Ştiinţa Timişoara), Eduard Stăncioiu (CFR Cluj)

Defenders: Cosmin Contra (Getafe), Gabriel Tamaş (AJ Auxerre), Ştefan Radu (Lazio Roma), Răzvan Raţ (Şahtior Doneţk), Cristian Săpunaru (Rapid), Dorin Goian (Steaua), Sorin Ghionea (Steaua), Cosmin Moţi (Dinamo)

Midfielders: Florentin Petre (ŢSKA Sofia), Paul Codrea (AC Siena), Răzvan Cociş (Lokomotiv Moscova), Cristian Chivu (Internazionale Milano), Mirel Rădoi (Steaua), Nicolae Dică (Steaua), Bănel Nicoliţă (Steaua), Adrian Cristea (Dinamo)

Forwards: Adrian Mutu (AC Forentina), Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Daniel Niculae (AJ Auxerre), Marius Niculae (Inverness).

The last man left home by Piturca - Florin Bratu (forward) - Dinamo.

Posted from United States

By EuLupu | May 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am

On paper,Romania has slim chances to pass the group stages. But this will not be the first time when Romanian team has had the odds against them. I am with Jenei (Romanian former international and Steaua’s coach for the big 1984 UEFA championship win) - they should play without thinking qualification and points. The only way to qualify is creativity and spontaneity on the field that will surprise the others team. This would be a problem though considering the “iron hand” of Piturca and his lack of both as a player. Bratu could of been the “surprise” forward but Piturca decided to leave him home. Not one of the young promising players made the team! For most of the players this is it, their last important tournament in their life. Maybe this will help a bit, but again, Romania needs a tone of creativity to surclass France,Italy and Holland. Wish they will DO IT!!

Posted from United States

By Marina | May 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

But still, Romania will win. Look here, even the Swiss believe in Romanias victory!!!

http://www.gsp.ro/stire/cum-ii-vad-elvetienii-pe-tricolori-71159.html

Posted from Switzerland

By Danezu (Romania) | June 6th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

the team against France will be (probably) 1-4-3-3(defensive and on the counter-attack ,we are quickly on this,remember USA WORLD CUP 1994?):
Lobont-Contra,Tamas,Goian,Rat-Codrea,Radoi,Chivu-Fl.Petre(or Nicolita,here i’m not sure)Daniel Niculae,Mutu.
but, the final decision will be in the Piturca hands…HAI ROMANIA!!!

Comments are closed