Romania loses friendly against Croatia, 1-2
The Romanian national football team has lost on Thursday evening the friendly game against Croatia, score 1-2. The home side, without the injured Adrian Mutu and Cristian Chivu, controlled the first half but chances were at a premium before Ciprian Marica gave Romania the lead on 22 minutes with a low shot. Ivan Rakitic took only six minutes to equaliser with a long-distance free-kick from the left sent into the far corner and after the break Croatia were dominant. Substitute Kranjcar struck the winner with from close range and the visitors easily held on. The game was preceded by a moment of silence in the memory of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma who was killed last week in Hungary and the two teams wore black armbands. After the moment of silence images featuring Cozma were shown on the stadium's scoreboard, the fans giving a standing ovation. The fans also displayed two banners dedicated to Cozma, one reading "Nihil Sine Deo - Respect Marian Cozma" and the other "RIP Cozma - The lord of the semi-circle, now an angel of the sky". This game represented Cosmin Contra's 70th cap for the national team, Mirel Radoi's 50th cap, Gabriel Tamas's 40th cap and Razvan Cocis's 30th cap. Ciprian Marica scored his 10th goal for the national team. Otelul's midfielder Alexandru Bourceanu and Sportul Studentesc's striker Dacian Varga played their first game for the national team. Romania continues to be without a victory in the history of direct games against Croatia. Out of 4 games the Croatians won 3 while one game ended in a draw, the draw dating back to 1942. Victor Piturca, the head coach of the national team, has stated after the game that only the lack of concentration was to blame for the defeat. "We didn't start the year very well, but it was only a friendly game, one that we unfortunately lost. The opponents had a lot of goal scoring opportunities. We could have scored our third and fourth goals but the lack of concentration lost the game for us. We hope to fix the problems in the game against Serbia, especially the problems with the set-pieces because Serbia and Austria are far more dangerous than Croatia when it comes to set-pieces. I will draw the conclusions after this game but the official games are more important. I hope that all my players will be fit by the time of the game against Serbia", Piturca said.

The match from Constanța seemed balanced even from the start, the hosts showed that want the victory and played with determination. The first goal opportunity came in 13th minute, when Contra crossed, Mutu headed, but keeper Stojković caught the ball without problems. Serbia opened the score in 18th minute, after a counter attack: Jovanovic pushed the ball came from the bar into the net, after the shot of Krasic: 0-1. The team trained by Victor Pițurcă tried to attack more, but without result. Only Cociș tried something (25), but his shot was much over the post. Jovanovic had another opportunity, in 31st minute, but Lobonț caught the ball. A good opportunity for Romania had Mutu, in 32nd minute, the striker of Fiorentina remaining alone with the keeper, but Vidić caught him and blocked the striker in the moment of the shot. The guests were dangerous again in 39th minute, after a cross of Obradović. With one minute before the final of first half, in the crowded box of Romania, Dorel Stoica headed the ball into own net: 0-2. Romania was much more dangerous after the break and the opportunities started to appear: Mutu had an action finished with a dangerous shot, but over the post (46), Costea shot weak (47), and again Mutu was dangerous, but the referee rose the flag for off-side position (49). Contra had an excellent action on right side, the ball came to Mutu, who sent it to Marica and the striker of Stuttgart lobbed the ball over Stojković: 1-2 (50). But nine minutes later, Serbia scored again, through Ivanović, after a corner kick: 1-3. Romania continued to attack, but the shot of Contra was blocked by a defender (63), and the shot of Raț went beside the post (64). Contra shot again, from long distance, but keeper Stojković did his job again (69). Then Marica shot beside the post after a cross from Bucur (71). The efforts of the hosts were rewarded in 74th minute, when Dorel Stoica headed for 2-3 after the cross of Mutu. Serbia responded through the shot of Janković (79), but over the post. Romania had problems again in 84th minute, when Contra fell wrong on his hand and continued to play with his arm bandaged, all the three substitutions being made already. The match ended with the victory of Serbia, in spite of all efforts of Romanian players. Victor Pițurcă, coach of Romania: "We received three goals fast, in a moment when we could return in the game. We could score the third goal too, but we weren't left. I don't contest the refereeing, but we were disadvantaged a few times, especially when the referee refused us a penalty kick. Mutu tried to do a lot. He managed to send a goal pass and I am sorry that he couldn't score too. Contra made an excellent match, he must be congratulated. It can say that we had bad luck too. First place is far away, but many surprises can appear until the final of preliminaries. I don't know if we still have chances to qualify. Now we are thinking at the meeting with Austria".

Romania didn't start too well the match, but had the first opportunity to score in 3rd minute, when Cociș headed over the post. Raț shot into the wall after a free kick from about 25 meters (9), and one minute later Prodl received yellow card for simulation in Romanian box. In 14th minute, the fans of Romania started to scan for the first time "resignation". The first opportunity of the hosts came in 20th minute, when Arnautovic shot very dangerous, but the ball went over the bar. Four minutes later, Romania opened the score through Tănase: goalkeeper Gspurning rejected wrong the ball and Tănase lobbed the ball over the keeper from about 28 meters. Just a minute lasted the joy of Romanians, because defenders Raț and Goian haven't understood each other at the edge of the box and Hoffer made 1-1. After the goal, Romanian fans threw with torches into the ground, which led to interruption of the game for two minutes. Romanians tried to build offensive actions, but they didn't succeed at all, being many moments of confusion in the game of the team trained by Victor Pițurcă. The single important action belonged to Cociș, in 30th minute, but his shot missed the target. The same Cociș missed alone with the keeper at the final of first half, but a new mistake in the centre of Romanian defense, between Rădoi and Tamaș, offered the possibility to Hoffer to score again: 2-1 (44). After the break, the first opportunity of Romania came just in 60th minute, when Tamaș shot strong from a free kick from 25 meters, but goalkeeper of Austria caught the ball. The hosts responded right away, but Lobonț rejected over the bar the free kick executed by Scharner (62). At corner, Okotie resumed in blocking (63) and Scharner shot beside the post. Raț crossed excellent, at one meter in front of the post, but nobody was there to push the ball in the net (66). Romania attacked desperate, but the ball refused to enter into the net: Niculae and Cociș tried to score too, but they failled (72). Then Tănase shot weak after a beautiful action (74) and Gspurning rejected a new ball sent by Cociș (76). The pressing continued with the shot of Marius Niculae (80), rejected by the keeper, then the lob of Goian went over the post (81). The coach of Romania offered the possibility to Max Nicu to debute at national team, but only in 84th minute, when nothing could be done. Tamaș wasted a new opportunity in 90th minute, his shot being rejected by keeper into corner, one minute later he shooting much over the post. Romania played very weak, made many mistakes and missed a lot of opportunities, so it can say that Austria deserved this win. Victor Pițurcă, coach of Romania: "Nothing special happened, just that we lost the match. We lost with Austria as we lost with Serbia. We had the match at our discretion, but when we make this kind of errors it is normal to lose the game. The reconstruction should be done gradually. Unfortunately, without Chivu and Mutu we are zero. I didn't have players to replace those two".

Lithuania beat Romania at Cluj with 3-0 and debutante coach Razvan Lucescu sent on the field a new team. These are two reasons for which the match from Marijampole had stake. And Romania showed exactly what the new manager asked: attitude. Romanians started the match well, playing offensive from the beginning. 6-1 was the difference of goal opportunities for Romania in the first half of hour! The biggest opportunities: free kick executed by Chivu (25), with a few cm over the cross bar, then Marica proved to be selfish twice (15, 27), when he preferred to shoot on the post than to pass to a colleague. But in 39th minute, the same Marica shot well from the edge of the box, with left foot, and defeated the goalkeeper of Lithuania: 0-1. Right after the goal of Marica, the hosts had a good opportunity, but Sapunaru saved the team at the shot of Edgaras Cesnauskis (40). Debutante Apostol moved well, especially during offensive actions, like Ghioane and Tanase. In front of Lucescu's organization, Lithuanians have responded with already known counter attacks, but also with an aggressive game, the result being that Apostol broke his head and Sapunaru was hit in the knee. The hosts were dangerous at corners, their first opportunity appearing from such a kick (28), but Klimavicius headed over the post. After the break, Lithuania played more offensive, but bigger opportunities still belonged to Lucescu's team. Apostol (52), Marica (53, 71) and Danciulescu (59, 67) have missed a reassuring 2-0. With two minutes before the final, the hosts could level the score, but the "torpedo" of Sernas was miraculously rejected into corner by Coman. The final score remained 0-1, a success at the limit for Romania, but enough to help the "take-off" for a new national team. In 12th minute, Iulian Apostol (174 cm) tried to win a duel in air at the middle of the field. But Lithuanian Pilibaitis hit him with the elbow in the head, receiving a yellow card too. The Romanian player was dressed and returned on the field with the head bandaged and with a new shirt, the old one being full of blood. Ciprian Marica couldn't shoot well from a few good positions, so during the first half he changed his shoes. The new pair of shoes brought him luck, because in 39th minute he managed to score.
Jose Couceiro, coach of Lithuania: "We were dominated in the first half, but after the break we were more decided and we have imposed our game. We tried to attack because we made a mistake at the goal of Marica and we needed at least a goal. Romania proved that is a strong team. The defeats with 0-1 are normal, but our performance from Cluj was extraordinary, because results of 0-3 don't appear so often. This time they won. They have afforded to bring 11 new players at national team, while we didn't have too many solutions".
Razvan Lucescu, coach of Romania: "It was a deserved win, because we were the better team. I knew that we will meet an uncomfortable opponent, organized very well in defence, which tried to surprise us on counter attacks. This is an evening that I will never forget, I'm happy. I think we were superior and we controlled the game. I had no emotions, because I saw that my team works fine and the players want more, so I was more confident. We had 5-6 clear opportunities to score, while they had just half of opportunity. The goal difference could be bigger".

Romania obtained the second victory from history at Budapest, after a game well organized, and keep its invincibility in front of Hungary for 28 years. The match has played on counter attacks, with offensive actions at both posts, but the guests tried to have a better possession of the ball. Marica tried to shoot in 2nd minute, but he was blocked. The hosts responded one minute later, but Torghelle was blocked in last moment. Nicu missed a good situation (7), his shot from left side being rejected into corner. Two minutes later, Danciulescu wasted a great chance, when he remained alone with the goalkeeper, but he stepped on the ball. Hungary has returned in attack, being dangerous at a free kick (20), and after the corner kick which followed they sent the ball in the bar, twice, but after they fouled in attack. Max Nicu wasted a good opportunity in 25th minute, when he remained alone at the edge of the box, but he shot much over the post. Then it was the turn of Hungary to be dangerous: Gyepes crossed in 30th minute, but Coman rejected the ball from under the bar, then he rejected the shot of Dzsudzsák (32). Romania opened the score in 42nd minute, through Ghioane, who sent "at the spider" the ball rejected after the cross of Mara from right side: 0-1. Until the break Romania had two more opportunities through Marica, who sent the ball over the post from "bicycle" (44), then he shot into the wall from free kick (45+2). In second half Hungary were more offensive and had some dangerous actions to Coman's post, the most important being in 53rd minute, when Gera shot beside the post with a few cm. Then Juhász (63) had a good opportunity, but his shot passed over the post. The same Juhász headed beside the post in 68th minute, after a corner kick, while Hajnal was blocked by Chivu in the moment of the shot five minutes later. The last important moment belonged to the hosts, after Hajnal (81) sent a torpedo from 28 meters, but beside the post. Romania made a pretty good game, especially in the first half, while in the second one were dominated by hosts. Hungary have created problems particularly at set pieces, which weren't just a few at the post of Coman.
Razvan Lucescu, coach of Romania: "I'm happy for this second match away and the second win for national team. There were two different halves. In the first part we controlled the game and we have created opportunities through a good construction. In the second one I saw an amazing spirit of sacrifice and a great desire of the boys to get the victory. We gain confidence, enthusiasm, and the team grows from such of matches. It was an useful test, in front of a strong opponent, and this thing gives us confidence for the match with France".

Despite the huge differences between the two teams, both in quality and in experience, this was always going to be a tricky fixture for them; mainly because both are aiming for a qualifying place that would eventually lead to the South Africa World Cup 2010; which leads us to head-to-head statistics: the first game between them in this qualifying group, back in 2008, ended in a 2-2 draw, while their other encounter - in the European Championship 2008 also eded in a draw (a goalless one, though). The match itself was predictable, to a certain extent, as Les Bleus controlled the course of the game from start to finish, with the occasional chances for the opposition. Thus, Domenech's side had numerous shots at Coman's goal and were somewhat surprised to be facing such a stubborn and motivated defence. Hoping to break the ice as soon as possible, France internationals were taking chances from all over the pitch, which eventually resulted in a not-so-good shots taken / shots on target ratio (the players themselves were shocked that attacking playmaker Yoann Gourcuff just couldn't hit the target with either one of his five attempted efforts). The half-time whistle came as a relief to the Romanians who had been resisting out-and-out attacks for most of the first half, only to concede a goal in the early minutes of the second half, as Barcelona forward Thierry Henry took the lead with a close range shot after a direct free-kick earned by his teammates and was later disputed to have been in an offside position. Romania must have been even more motivated following this incident as no more than 8 minutes passed before they were given a reason to celebrate, fast, precise passing followed by Apostol's clean touches resulted in Julien Escude putting a good cross in his own net. Further on in the game, Domenech tried to counter Razvan Lucescu's tight midfield and defence as both Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery entered the fray, though with no change in the scoreline which, despite not helping them, will certainly have done wonders for the confidence of Romanians and pushing France further away from securing a place to the South Africa World Cup 2010.
Răzvan Lucescu, coach of Romania: "We met a very strong team, with a huge value. It's an important result, taking into account that we are a team at beginning of road and these games help us to grow, give us confidence in organization and help us to propose important objectives. I think that France had more opportunities and probably would have deserved to get the victory, but because our players had spirit of sacrifice, willing to obtain a good result and they never thought that will lose, I consider it is a fair result".

Romania started the match in force and were close to open the score twice, in the very first minute, through Sapunaru: Porto's defender had a shot blocked by Austrian defense and then he headed the ball over the post after the corner wich followed. Austria were close to score in own post in 4th minute, at a wrong intervention of a defender, after a free kick executed by Adrian Cristea. The first consistent action of the guests took place in 9th minute, when Beichler came on the left side, he passed by Radoi, being stopped in last moment by Chivu. Romania 's first big opportunity came in 10th minute, when the header of Radoi was rejected from under the bar by goalkeeper Payer. In 19th minute, Marica remained alone with the goalkeeper, but he failed to lob the ball over Payer. At the other post, Coman was careful and had no emotions at the free kick executed by Fuchs (28), from about 30 meters. One minute later, Marica was very close to score, but he didn't reach to the ball crossed by Roman in the box. Over five minutes, Roman received the ball in the box, but he couldn't defeat goalkeeper Payer. The first half ended with the header of Sapunaru (44), over the post of Payer. In the second half, Austria were close to open the score after a big mistake of the pair Radoi - Sapunaru, but Maierhof, who remain alone with the keeper, failed to take advantage of it (52). Romania managed to open the score two minutes later, through little Gigel Bucur, who headed for 1-0 the cross of Cristea. Marica dangerously deflected a cross from right side (61) and only a few centimeters missed that the ball to enter into the net. Radoi stammered a ball at 6 meters and gave emotions to Coman (66). Marica passed excellent to Roman, but he crossed wrong (70), the action ended with a shot of Cristea, caught pretty difficult by the keeper. Coman did his job too, in 74th minute, at the free kick sent by Wallner. Austrians managed to level the score in 83rd minute through Schiemer, who resumed from the box, with all Coman's opposition, after a corner: 1-1. Right away, Ghioane had a dangerous shot at short corner (84), rejected by goalkeeper. Sapunaru shot too, but beside the post (85). Romania will play next match away, in Serbia, on 10 October, the campaign following to finish with the match against Faroe Islands, on 14 October, on own field.
Razvan Lucescu, coach of Romania: "It is clear that I am disappointed with the result. I was expecting the win a lot, like all the players. It was a strange game, we started well, we have created many opportunities to score. The result should be other. I would have wanted to play weaker but to win. It was a very important result for the ranking and now we must win the last two matches".
Dietmar Constantini, coach of Austria: "For us this score can be considered a success. We met a motivated team, but after all the draw is correct. We tried to win the game only in last minutes. We obtained a draw in Romania and we should be pleased with that. We tried to level the score and in the end the goal came too. Romania played well, with speed, it was a difficult match as we have expected to be".

Serbia controlled the whole match and managed to score five goals through Nikola Zigic (37), Marko Pantelic (50), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (78), Milan Jovanovic (87, 90+3), the team of Radomir Antic qualifying at the final tournament from South Africa after this success. Serbia started the match in force and missed the first opportunity in second minute, when the shot of Stankovic missed the post of Coman with a few cm. The hosts continued to attack and Rădoi had to reject twice from own box (5) . The first offensive action of Romania came in 8th minute, when Mutu headed over the post after a cross from Varga. Mutu "managed" to break the nose of Vidic (14), with the elbow, in a duel in air, but the referee hasn't booked him. Ivanovic headed over the post of Coman (13), Stankovic (17) shot from 16 meters, but Coman caught, another good opportunity of the hosts taking place in 19th minute, when the cross of Krasic couldn't be deflected by Pantelic. Then it followed a few good moments for the team of Răzvan Lucescu, but Varga (22) shot much over the post from a very good position. Mutu (24) executed well a free kick from 24 meters, but he missed the target with a few cm. Vidic (31) headed over the post from 6 meters, then Serbia opened the score through Zigic (37), the player of Valencia heading from the middle of the box, after a corner executed by Krasic. One minute later, Krasic shot to the post, but keeper Coman caught the ball. Adrian Cristea (44) resumed over the post from 6 meters, after a cross of Ghioane, Zigic tested Coman again with a header (45), while Mutu wasted a new good free kick, from a very good position (45+2), he shooting much over the post this time. Serbia continued to attack after the break too and five minutes later managed to increase the advantage, through Pantelic, with a shot at long corner, he receiving the pass from Krasic, who dribbled Apostol: 2-0. Romania responded through Raț (52), who sent a surprising shot from distance, but missed the target. Serbia didn't retired in defense and Pantelic shot beside the post after an action of Jovanovic (59). Unmarked, Bucur (65) headed beside the post from 6 meters, after a cross from Raț. Then, Krasic missed incredible from a few meters, after the cross of Jovanovic (68). Mutu had a nice action, but his shot was rejected by Stojkovic (71). Kuzmanovic scored the third goal for Serbia in 78th minute, completing a triangle Zigic - Pantelic: 3-0. Romanians ended the match on the knees, after elimination of captain Chivu and two new goals, scored by Jovanovic (87, 90+3), with nice shots from the edge of the box. Varga missed to score the goal of honour in additional time, when his shot went beside the post. Romania played very weak and received five goals, this being the biggest failure from last 20 years. This also was the first defeat of coach Răzvan Lucescu, in his fifth match on the technical bench of Romania. Romania will finish the preliminaries World Cup 2010 on Wednesday, in Piatra Neamț, with Faroe Islands.
Radomir Antic, coach of Serbia: "I am very happy, we achieved a great victory and the Serbs deserve it. It's the perfect final of an extraordinary campaign. We showed the real image of Serbia. I feel a happiness that I can not express in words, it is not comparable with any success of mine in the past. We resisted to the pressure, we won without any doubt".
Răzvan Lucescu, coach of Romania: "It is a humiliation, one of the biggest. The disaster began after we received the second goal. The first half was pretty balanced, but Serbia played with more ambition and determination. We didn't allow them to create big opportunities, but they managed to score once. To the final of first half we had some opportunities too, but I was expected to have a different reaction after the break. We lost the fight at the middle of the field and everything has broken from that moment. This is it, we must learn from this kind of moments".

Romania wrapped up their World Cup qualifying schedule with a comprehensive win over an outclassed Faroe Islands side. With neither side having anything left to play for, the hosts dominated throughout the match and took the lead in the 15th minute through Iulian Apostol's first goal for his country. Gheorghe Bucur's header midway through the second half doubled Romania's advantage. Egil a Bo gave the home fans a few jitters six minutes from time, scoring with what proved to be the visitors' only effort on goal all night, but Ionut Mazilu restored the two-goal advantage two minutes from time. In truth, the match should never have been so close, with Romania enjoying a string of chances but failing to convert. The chances of a one-sided score looked good when Romania took the lead so early in the game, with the 28-year-old Apostol opening his international account with a strike from just inside the area after being set up by Bucur. Stuttgart striker Ciprian Marica then missed a pair of decent chances, the second coming just before the half-hour mark when he struck from just inside the area but was denied by a fine save from Jakup Mikkelsen. Romania continued to push forward but lacked a cutting edge in the final third and were forced to wait until the 65th minute to get their second. Marica was the provider, with his cross finding the head of Bucur for a simple finish. Moments later, Bucur might have had another but for the hands of Mikkelsen. The Faroe Islands then scored against the run of play, with A Bo firing in a free-kick that beat the otherwise un-tested Costel Pantilimon. However, Romania had a quick response, created by two substitutes. Andrei Cristea refused to give up on a ball that seemed to be going out for a throw-in on the left wing, with the Dinamo Bucharest man going on to beat two defenders before seeing his shot saved by Mikkelsen. The ball fell for Mazilu to strike home, a cruel blow for the 39-year-old Mikkelsen, who deserved better on the night that he wore his gloves for the final time at international level.
Razvan Lucescu, coach of Romania: "It was a nice match in which we ran a lot and looked for the show. It isn't the first or last time when we receive goal from set piece. Our objective was poor, remaining in the second value group, but it is important that we accomplished this objective. We must understand that a qualification can be won starting with wins against smaller teams. I want to thank to the fans from Piatra-Neamt who supported us the whole match and I hope we will return here, because we felt very well".

Romania beat Poland with 1-0, in Warszawa, on the field of Legia. The single goal of the match was scored by Daniel Niculae (59). Romanians, in their last match of the year, started pretty well and had an easy control over the game. The first opportunity of the match was missed by Ciprian Marica (7), who shot just over the post from about 19 meters. Romania continued to have the initiative, but the game was very affected by the bad condition of the pitch, who was full of water. Jelen wasted the first opportunity of Poland in 27th minute, when his shot from angle was rejected by goalkeeper Pantilimon. Romania had another good opportunity until the break, after a mistake of hosts' defense, but Daniel Niculae shot over the post from 16 meters (34). The first opportunity of second half belonged to Nicolita, whose shot from about 23-24 meters was deflected in last moment by goalkeeper Kuszczak (54). Finally, Romania opened the score in 59th minute, through Daniel Niculae, after a pass from Ghioane: 0-1. Niculae had a bit of chance too, because the ball sent by him to the post was slightly deflected by Dudka, enough to trick goalkeeper Kuszczak. Niculae was close to increase the advantage, but his header (66) was rejected by the goalkeeper, who blocked Bucur then. Poland started to play more offensive and Jelen (67) had the chance to level the score, but his header was too weak for Pantilimon, who caught the ball without problems. Obraniak shot to the post in 74th minute, but the ball went beside the target. One minute later, Brozek sent a dangerous shot-cross, but keeper Pantilimon was carefully, the team of Romania retreating more in defense. However, the visitors were close to solve this match in 86th minute, when goalkeeper Kuszczak dropped the ball, but Bucur sent the ball in lateral net, from a very small angle. Peszko (87) was close to draw, remaining alone with the goalkeeper of Romania , but he shot weak and Pantilimon caught the ball. Săpunaru saved the goal in additional time (90+3), when he took the ball from Peszko, after the Polish players has dribbled goalkeeper Pantilimon. Romania managed to obtain the victory after a pretty good game.
Razvan Lucescu, coach of Romania: "The result isn't fair, because we could score more, to have a bigger difference of goals. I am pleased with the attitude of the players, with the way in which they have fought for victory. Before the match I explained to the players that unity of the group is the most important. I liked how they have played today".