South-Americans started the match more aggressive, but Romanian players balanced the match and had first opportunity in minute 8, when Cociș shot from 25 metres, near by the post of Carini. Four minutes later, Mutu tested keeper of Cagliari, but he had no problem because striker of Juventus shot weak. Players of Uruguay became more dangerous on counter attacks, after balls sent over our central defenders, Tamaș and Iencsi, who even if they are team mates at Spartak Moscow too, they always seemed to be surprised. Estoyanoff mid (16) remained alone with Lobonț, but Romanian keeper saved the goal. It followed two shots from long distance of Tabárez players, Giacomazzi mid (18) and Vargas att (25), but they missed the target. A great opportunity had Abreu att, in minute 28, he shot from volley the cross from Giacomazzi, but Lobonț saved the goal again. It was the turn of Romania to play more offensive to the final of first half, players of Piturca having two opportunities to open the score. Mutu shot over the post from free kick, in minute 34, and five minutes later Marius Niculae headed very close to the bar. Right after the break, Romanian defenders were surprised, again: Vargas att intercepted a pass from Iencsi to Tamaș and opened the score in second 35. The response of Romania came in minuite 52, when Carini rejected from under the bar the cross-shot of Daniel Niculae. Uruguay increased the advantage by the same Vargas att, who scored simple, after Lobonț rejected wrong a ball crossed by Fucile def. At 0-2, South Americans renounced at offensive, preferring to stay in defence and to counter attack. Romanian players pressed more, but the opportunities were less and not too clear. Last three minutes of the match brought three opportunities for Romania: Nicoliță headed the cross of Boștină, but Carini gk saved (87), Daniel Niculae sent the ball close to the bar from a very good position (88 ), and Mutu was blocked by Carini gk in penalty area (90+1). Uruguay let the impression of an homogeneous team, rested, which knows what to want, while Romanians made many mistakes and often were surprised by the opponents, not succeeding to create real problems to a good organized defence.

Romania started the match excellent, "the substitutes" succeeding to score twice in first 11 minutes. Pițurcă sent on the field a team made in Divizia A, dominated by players of Steaua and Rapid. Debutante Mugurel Buga has finalized in 7 minute a beautiful combination between Vali Bădoi and Daniel Niculae and four minutes later Niculae scored the second goal for Romania, from 15 metres, after a pass from Mirel Rădoi. Romania continued the offensive and missed another good opportunity by Buga in 13 minute, at the cross of Nicoliță. Irish had first important opportunity in 22 minute, when McAuley def headed from penalty kick, but not too dangerous for Coman post. Nicoliță had a good chance to score in 27 minute, but he shot close to the bar. Three minutes later, North Ireland was close to goal, but the shot of Shields mid passed over the post. They had two new opportunities to score in 31 minute and 35 minute, by Quinn att and Thompson att, but Coman succeeded to save his team. The final of first half didn't bring any important moment, except the elimination of Quinn, who received red card for a tough foul at Dorin Goian. After the break, Victor Pițurcă sent on the field Mutu, Șoavă and Cocișș, who replaced D.Niculae, M.Rădoi and Tibi Bălan. In 51 minute, Boștină passed very well to Mutu, but his shot went over the post. Buga was close to score again in 58 minute, he intercepted the ball and remained alone with the keeper, but he shot directly in Blayney. In next minute Coman showed that he has good skills at the action of Davis mid. More valuable, national team of Romania has leaded the match, succeeding a better game than against Uruguay, but even so, the players didn't impress, especially Northern Ireland has played with a man less almost one hour.

Romania has played without Adi Mutu, who was not even on substitutes list, after a conflict with coach Pițurcă. At the training before the match with Colombia, coach Pițurcă told him to pass more, but the answer of Mutu was "You stay on the bench. I know what I am doing". Pițurcă didn't like his attitude and decided not to select him in the squad for the match with South Americans. Coach of Romania said that is a temporary decision. Colombia had first important opportunity to open the score in 8 minute, when Soto mid missed the target from good position. Daniel Niculae received a pass from Tamaș in 16 minute, he shot from angle but without problems for Cordoba. Five minutes later he missed a huge opportunity, Contra passed him very well, but D.Niculae hurried and shot too fast. Another opportunity for Romania had Nicoliță, in 35 minute, he heading near by the post the cross of P.Stoica. A new chance for Pițurcă players came in 43 minute, when D.Goian sent the ball with the head close to the bar, from the corner crossed by Nicoliță. In second half, Romanian players continued the offensive, hoping to score, but without result. D.Goian headed again over the post in 57 minute, and when Cordoba got out wrong from the post, neither Daniel Niculae, neither Nicoliță could defeat him. In 80 minute Romania wasted a new opportunity to score, by Ovidiu Petre, who shot over the post from 16 metres, he receiving, central, an excellent pass from Tibi Bălan. In last minute of the match, Colombia was very close to score, when at the cross of Moreno, from free kick, Yanes headed close to the bar, Lobonț remaining motionless. Being supported by many Romanian fans, the players of Pițurcă played better, had more opportunities, but didn't succeed to score. Colombia has played weaker than we expected, many times tough, without to impress. About this match and the whole tournament from USA, coach Pițurcă said: "I am satisfied. We have won some good players for national team. I liked how have played more players, as Buga, Maftei, Daniel Niculae, Marius Niculae and Nicoliță".

Practically, the match started from 1-0 for Romania, after a wonderful goal scored by Nicolae Dică in 4 minute, shot from 20 metres, after a pass from Paul Codrea. Adi Mutu sent the ball a bit over the post from free-kick, in 9 minute, the player of Fiorentina being close to score again in 26 minute. He did score, but in 29 minute, heading the cross from Contra. Romanians have controlled the game after the goals too, but clear opportunities didn't appear anymore. Okkas (44) shot near by the post of Lobonț from penalty box, while in additional time of first half Romania had two more opportunities. In second half, after many substitutions in Romanian team, Marica had the first opportunity in 48 minute, heading over the post the cross from Nicoliță. Ten minutes later, Roșu couldn't push the ball in empty net at the cross from Dică. Till the end of the match, Romania had 3-4 more clear opportunities, but the scoreboard remained the same. It was a deserved victory of the team trained by Victor Pițurcă, but the final score doesn't reflect the reality from the field.

The national team of Romania drew, score 2-2 (1-0) in the first match within the 2008 European Football Championship qualifiers, held on Saturday, at home, against Bulgaria. After a first half an hour rather balanced, the team of Romania started dominating the game towards the end of the match, managing to have the minimum advantage of one goal before the break, through the goal scored by Laurențiu Roșu, in 41 minute. The second goal of Romania came only 10 minutes after the break, when the 20-year-old striker playing for Shakhtar Donetsk, Ciprian Marica, scored from a central position. Heavily dominating the second half, Romania had a series of chances, however the Bulgarians were the ones who scored, managing to tie the result in only three minutes in the end of the game, through the goals scored by Martin Petrov in 82 and 83 minutes. Romania's discomfort was compounded, as Gabriel Tamaș was sent off in extra time for a second offence. The match counting for the qualifying group G of the final tournament from Austria and Switzerland was refereed by a squad from Italy, headed up by referee Stefano Farina, helped by linesmen Paolo Calcagno and Alessandro Lion. The match between the two neighbours practically started from the intimidating reciprocal statements started at the beginning of the last week, as the press both from Romania and Bulgaria wrote titles meant to irritate and discourage the opposite team. The team of Bulgaria was encouraged in Constanța by 1.300 fans, who sat in two sectors from the "Farul" stadium. As expected, the statements given right after the end of the match by Bulgarians were triumphant, while the Romanian officials thought the final result was unfair. "We are all upset, taking into account we were leading 2-0. We felt we were better on the pitch. The set by which they scored the first goal was given too easily, and then, a minute of inattention cost us the match. We are better than them and we must qualify" - said Roșu said, the author of the first goal. In his turn, captain of Romania, Cristian Chivu thinks Bulgaria managed to recover from 0-2 to 2-2 because of the lack of experience of Romanian players at this level. However, he does not think the draw with Bulgaria means getting off on the wrong foot in the qualification campaign for Euro 2008. "It is a pity we did not know how to preserve that result, and towards the end, we paid very much for our lack of confidence. We are a working team and we have to do our best for 90 minutes. This is our fate, we must tremble all the time" - said Chivu. Yet, the striker of AC Fiorentina, Adrian Mutu had another opinion, thinking the draw with Bulgaria was a defeat. With an ostentatious attitude, the coach of Bulgaria , Hristo Stoichkov stated the national team of his country was better than Romania . "I am satisfied with the result, my team succeeded a good match against a team of Romania that has valuable players. My players proved to have strength. I want to congratulate myself for the changes I made and I could say Bulgaria was better today" - the Bulgarian coach said. In the other two matches of Group G, the Netherlands defeated away, score 1-0 Luxembourg , thus taking the lead of the Group, while Belarus drew at home, score 2-2 in the match against Albania.

The national team of Romania managed to beat Albania with 2-0 at Tirana, despite a rather unconvincing showing. After a goalless first half, the red-yellow-and-blues scored twice, defeating an ambitious team, yet lacking experience and technical skills. Romanians started the game rather uptight, given the draw 2-2 against Bulgaria. It is also true that Albanians benefited from the advantage of playing home, with supporters strongly encouraging their team. Codrea was close to score a self-goal in 30th minute, when his header went to the post of Lobonț, a phase that set Albanian fans on fire. Lobonț however got the right gloves this time, catching any ball. Fl.Petre darted a few times on the right flank, outrunning Albanian defender Curri, but the Romanian's high balls were either too long or too short. Mutu lost himself in his dribbling and a nervous Pițurcă cut the air with his arms in despair. Roșu wasn't the player he used to be in the Bulgaria game, Fl.Petre and Contra appeared to be playing together for the first time. Mutu permanently asked his teammates to send him all the balls, although nobody seemed to take him seriously. He took on a few individual actions, yet he miscalculated his steps and Albanians were counter-attacking. Chivu was the single Romanian player that kept his cool, pushing the team ahead. In 65th minute, Dică received an unexpected gift from the Albanian Kastrati and the Steaua player scored fast. The goal brought the peace in the Romanian camp. Nine minutes later, Fl.Petre was thrown to the ground when he was about to push the ball into the net. Mutu executed the penalty kick and the score became 0-2. Mutu and Ganea were close to score the third goal, the Romanian continuing to attack, being afraid that it could happen like the end of the match with Bulgaria. But the scoreboard remained 0-2, Romania winning the first match in preliminaries of Euro 2008.

Kastrati Bekim, what an international! The 27-year-old player of Eintracht Braunschweig was providential for the team of Pițurcă. In 62nd minute, he substituted Bogdani. Three minutes later, the ball was rejected by the Albanian defenders, the ball came to Kastrati, who careless, sent it back, to own defence. Actually, he passed very well to Nicolae Dică, the player of Steaua remained alone with the keeper, scoring with cold blood. What the Albanian player made in the rest of the match doesn't count anymore, because he was the provider of the pass which went to the opening of the score. "Gazeta Sporturilor" gave him a 10.

Romania won very hard the three points in the meeting with Belarus. Returned after four years in Ghencea, national team of Romania started the match against Belarus in force and was already leading with 2-0 in 10 th minute. After Mutu headed close to the post in second minute, he managed to opened the score after an excellent cross from Florentin Petre, in 7 th minute: 1-0. After just three minutes, Ciprian Marica made 2-0, after an individual action. The fans of Belarus generated some incidents in the tribunes, throwing with torches in the sector of Romanian fans, the gendarmes having to interfere. The fans of Belarus have left the stadium at the break. Romania continued the offensive, Rat sending a good shot, from outside of the box, but the ball went over the post, in 17th minute. Mutu was close of third goal, but he lost the ball in the box, in last moment, moment when Belarus started a counter attack, scoring through Kornilenko, at an excellent pass of Hleb: 2-1. Marica (27) and Dică (31) shot from long distange, but without problems for Hayev (who is also the goalkeeper of Dinamo). The hosts continued to press, but the game lost from the beauty, the attacks of Romania not having finalization. After the break, both teams played on counter attacks. The guests had the first opportunity to score, but Coman saved the goal in last moment, after a deflected shot of Romashchenko (49). Another good opportunity for Romania was wated in 52 nd minute, when Roșu passed weak to Mutu in the box, but the striker didn't catch the ball at just three metres of post, moment when Hayeu was got out wrong. In next minute, Roșu made a huge mistake, passing back, Kornilenko intercepted, but Coman saved Romania again. Florentin Petre shot again at a big distance of the post (55), and Belarus was close to score on counter attack, the dangerous Kornilenko being blocked in last moment by Goian. Three Romanian players remained alone with the keeper, but all of them hesitated and finally Mutu was blocked. Daniel Coman had again a very good intervation, at the free kick executed by Romashchenko, in 73 rd minute. Romania missed the goal again, Marica kept the ball too long and Florentin Petre's shot came alongside goal line. Romania finally scored the third goal, in 76 th minute, when Goian headed after the cross of Florentin Petre: 3-1. In 80 th minute Florentin Petre was selfish, shooting wrong at a good action of Romanian team. It was a deserved victory, but very difficult, where the game of Romania wasn't worked out as everybody expected, being very obviously that one of the players didn't play on his position, Chivu being midfielder instead of centre back (he played weak, with many wrong passes), and Dică wasn't in good form. The match was open, but both teams had problems at finalization. Romania ended the autumn campaign at Euro 2008, next match being scheduled on 24 March 2007, in Holland.

A goal from Ciprian Marica condemned Spain to a 1-0 defeat by Romania in Wednesday's friendly in Cádiz. Following a disappointing 12 months that promised much but delivered little, Spain coach Luis Aragonés had hoped to end the year on a positive note. A premature 2006 FIFA World Cup exit was compounded by UEFA EURO 2008 reverses against Northern Ireland (3-2) and Sweden (2-0), and Romania gave the under-fire tactician another miserable night here. Even so Spain started well, setting the tempo on a wet evening at the "Ramón de Carranza" stadium, with the Valencia CF contingent showing particular urgency. David Villa's powerful right-footed volley midway through the first half represented his side's best chance but Romania keeper Danut Coman was equal to the effort. After the break, Romania's waiting game was rewarded when they raced away on the counterattack and Marica popped up to convert Răzvan Raț's cross in the 59th minute. In the event the Aragonés revolution, comprising three debutants in the form of Javi Navarro, David Silva and Ángel López, failed to make its mark on another sorry night for Spain. The Spaniards will resume their UEFA EURO 2008T qualifying campaign on 24 March 2007 when they host Denmark and try to reduce a nine-point deficit on Sweden in Group F, while Romania will visit Group G leaders the Netherlands with a three-point gap between the two countries.