World Cup Countdown - Paraguay
Paraguay - The Squad
Readers' Teams Of The year
365 Q&A Jurgen Klinsmann
World Cup Countdown - Romania
Romania - The Squad
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Romania - The Squad
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 Features 6 
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ROMANIA - THE SQUAD
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Hagi And Who For France, Then?
THE COACH
Anghel Iordanescu
A legend in Romania who won 64 caps as a player and scored 26 goals, the second highest total in the country's history. Iordanescu was appointed national coach in June 1993 - when qualification for the World Cup was in doubt - after a successful spell in charge of Steaua Bucharest, when the club won four League titles, the European Cup, the European Super Cup and two Romanian Cups. Iordanescu is rightly revered after overseeing the most successful period in Romania's football history and will be a great loss when he leaves to take over the Greek national side straight after the finals. Resigned as manager in March 1996 in protest at corruption within Romanian football, but was quickly persuaded back.
GOALKEEPERS
Bogdan Stelea
Much-travelled, shaven-headed keeper and Romania's number one. Now playing his club football in Spain after spells in Belgium, Austria and Turkey. He is, however, responsible for the howler in Romania's opening Euro 96 game against France that led to defeat.
Born: 5.12.67. Club: Salamanca (Spa). Caps: 45. Goals: 0.
Florian Prunea
An on-and-off international for a number of years who has never managed to displace Stelea as Romania's number one. Was responsible for the mistake against Sweden that cost Romania a semi-final place in 1994.
Born: 8.8.68. Club: Dinamo Bucharest. Caps: 35. Goals: 0.
Dumitru Stangaciu
Newcomer who has arrived on the international stage late in his career.
Born: 9.8.64. Club: Kocaelispor (Tur). Caps: 4. Goals: 0.
DEFENDERS
Anton Dobos
Relative newcomer whose chances of a place in the starting line-up have improved since moving to Greece from Steaua Bucharest. Has a terrible temperament.
Born: 13.10.65. Club: AEK Athens (Gre). Caps: 20. Goals: 0.
Iulian Filipescu
Versatile performer who can play in defence or midfield. Now back in the squad after impressive performances in Turkey. Has played in the Champions League for Steaua. Born: 29.3.74. Club: Galatasaray (Tur). Caps: 14. Goals: 0.
Dan Petrescu
One of Romania's leading players since making his international debut in 1989. Appeared in that year's European Cup Final for Steaua, when they lost to AC Milan. Missed out on Italia 90 due to injury but still moved to Italy, and played for Foggia, then Genoa. Ever-present for Romania at USA 94 and moved to Sheffield Wednesday after the finals. Unlucky to be sent off in Chelsea's Cup Winners Cup triumph over Stuttgart earlier this month. Will start at right-back, but prefers midfield.
Born: 22.12.67. Club: Chelsea (Eng). Caps: 66. Goals: 10.
Daniel Prodan
Experienced centre-back who will be a tower of strength at the back in France if he wins his battle for fitness.
Born: 23.3.72. Club: Atletico Madrid (Spa). Caps: 45. Goals: 1.
Tibor Selymes
Hungarian-born, Belgian-based defender who has been a regular starter at left-back since the last World Cup.
Born: 14.5.70. Club: Anderlecht (Bel). Caps: 44 Goals: 0.
Liviu Ciobotariu
Aged 27. Club: National Bucharest. Caps: 2. Goals: 0.
Cristian Dulca
Aged 23. Club: Rapid Bucharest. Caps: 3. Goals: 0.
MIDFIELDERS
Constantin Galca
Central midfielder who should start alongside Gica Popescu in France. Initially struggled to win a regular place in the national side, but his form in Spain has won over Iordanescu.
Born: 8.3.72. Club: Espanol (Spa). Caps: 39. Goals: 3.
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Dorinel Munteanu
Experienced campaigner who will start on the right-hand side of midfield in France. A season fighting unsuccessfully against relegation in Germany may have taken its toll by the time the World Cup kicks off. Had a goal controversially disallowed in Euro 96, when it hit the bar and bounced down over the line but was not seen by the ref.
Born: 25.6.68. Club: Koln (Ger). Caps: 61. Goals: 4.
Gabriel Popescu
No relation to Gica. A likely reserve in France after making his international debut last season against Israel.
Born: 23.12.73. Club: Universitatea Craiova. Caps: 11. Goals: 1.
Gheorghe Popescu
The key man in midfield. A veteran of Italia 90, USA 94 and Euro 96 who has been voted Romania's Footballer of the Year five times. Won the Turkish League with Galatasaray after a career that has taken him to honours with Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven, as well as an unsuccessful season with Tottenham.
Born: 9.10.67. Club: Galatasaray (Tur). Caps: 76. Goals: 13.
Ovidiu Stinga
Likely to only be a reserve in France after struggling to win a place at PSV.
Born: 5.12.72. Club: PSV Eindhoven (Hol). Caps: 18. Goals: 0.
Lucian Marinescu
Aged 26. Club: Rapid Bucharest. Caps: 3. Goals: 0.
FORWARDS
Gheorghe Craioveanu
Striker who has taken time to establish himself at international level, but is now making the breakthrough after good performances in Spain.
Born:14.2.68. Club: Real Sociedad (Spa). Caps: 17. Goals: 3.
Ilie Dumitrescu
Talented but inconsistent forward who shone at USA 94 when he scored two goals to help beat Argentina in the second round, but failed to hit it off at Spurs or West Ham. Also played at Italia 90, but missed Euro 96 through injury. Has resurrected his club career in Mexico but he has always been appreciated by Iordanescu and should make the squad.
Born: 6.1.69. Club: Atlante (Mex). Caps: 60. Goals: 20.
Gheorghe Hagi
Still the star man after all these years. First capped in 1983, Romania's most famous and most-capped footballer is a dangerous attacker who can hit a mean free-kick. The left foot, which led to his nickname ‘The Maradona of the Carpathians' is still deadly although his fitness is not what it was.
Born: 5.2.65. Club: Galatasaray (Tur). Caps: 109. Goals: 32.
Adrian Ilie
Highly promising young striker who has been a big hit in Spain with Real Sociedad after a brief spell in Turkey with Galatasaray didn't work out. Versatile enough to play in midfield if required.
Born: 20.4.74. Club: Real Sociedad (Spa). Caps: 18. Goals: 2.
Marius Lacatus
Veteran striker who played in Italia 90, but was left out of the USA 94 squad after a poor run of form. He's now back for a final crack at the World Cup. He's currently player-coach at Steaua after a lengthy playing career that took him to Italy and Spain. Born: 5.4.64. Club: Steaua Bucharest. Caps: 80. Goals: 13.
Viorel Moldovan
A top scorer in Swiss football but has struggled after taking the step up to English football last season. Played a crucial role in the France 98 qualifiers and will partner Ilie in the starting line-up.
Born: 8.8.72. Club: Coventry City (Eng). Caps: 22. Goals: 11.
Radu Niculescu
A reserve striker who Iordanescu will use as a last resort.
Aged 23. Club: National Bucharest. Caps: 12. Goals: 2.
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