Romania vs. Holland (June 4) and Armenia (June 8)
 

I really thought there was longer than 10 days until these games, but time has flown for me recently.

Well this is a big set for us. If there is still any hope for anyone, it can be easily capped if we lose in Holland. As it stands, we are 3 points behind the Dutch, who have a game in hand over us. A win would do us a big favour. We are playing against Armenia in Constanta and we should get a good win there, but really a worthless one if we firstly fail to show up at Rotterdam.

Holland 1-2 Romania
Romania 3-0 Armenia

Well Mutu is back for us and that will be a good boost for the team; he seems determined to get the shit sorted. Even though Holland kick our ass in most positions, I think we have a better chance against them now than in March. Firstly, the media's bullshit is gone, they said we were over after we lost in Giulesti so they won't be anyone's back this time. Also, Piturca has a bit more knowledge of the team than he had last time. Most importantly is Mutu, who can kick the team in the ass and show up a good spirit. I still don't think we'll qualify though.

On the squad front, this is the foreigner shortlist:

Keeper: Bogdan Lobonţ (Ajax Amsterdam)
Defenders: Flavius Stoican, Cosmin Bărcăuan, Răzvan Raţ (all Shakhtar Donetsk), Adrian Iencsi (Spartak Moscova), Cristian Chivu (AS Roma), Pompiliu Stoica (FC Moscova)
Midfielders: Daniel Pancu (Besiktas), Constantin Gâlcă (Almeria), Florin Cernat (Dynamo Kyiv), Nicolae Mitea (Ajax Amsterdam)
Attackers: Adrian Mutu (Juventus Torino), Marius Niculae (Sporting Lisbon), Adrian Ilie (FC Zurich), Ciprian Marica (Shakhtar Donetsk).

This is not the final selection, but the foreigners picked will be from this list. I don't think Adrian Ilie, Marica and Barcauan will be called; maybe Stoican aswell. Ilie is a free-agent (again) now and it looks like he wants to retire completely. Marica and Stoican have been back a short while only, and Stoican has hardly been back at all. Marica isn't in top form, he should play with the under 21s. Barcauan isn't very good. Cernat was pissed off that he was dropped from the shortlist last time, and quite rightly. He said that if he is dropped from this list aswell he might do a Ghioane. He shouldn't be left out though; he is a regular player now and also a very good one. I don't like Piturca's shortlist system, it pisses everyone off. The foreigners shouldn't be called beforehand anyway, everyone should be announced at the same time like everyone else does it. No bullshit.

From Divizia A it will be interesting to see who is chosen. Piturca will of course look back to the game against Moldova for solutions to the team's empty spaces. Radoi, Munteanu, Contra and Niculescu are almost certain inclusions. Other than these, Piturca seems to be keep on Dumitru from Steaua even though he has played very little recently. Among other possibilities from the Moldova game: G.Coman, Dica, Ghionea, Grigorie, Plesan, Ov. Petre.

On the subject, I wonder what Piturca was thinking not calling up Bucur, Ogararu, P.Marin and Fl.Petre for Moldova. He has nothing to see about these; some already in the team? or that they are out of his plans suddenly? We'll have to see.

Razvan Rat is suspended against Holland for picking up too many yellows.

ProSport's predicted XI vs. Holland:

----------------- Lobont -----------------
--------- Radoi --------- Chivu ----------
- Contra ------- Dorinel ------ P.Stoica -
--- Dumitru ----- Pancu ----- Mitea ------
-------- Niculescu --- Mutu --------------

It looks quite realistic. P.Stoica is a regular for a team high in the Russian league at the moment, but personally, I would prefer Chivu on the left and Ghionea as a centre-back. It won't happen however. Mitea would love an opportunity like this against Holland and Piturca would be silly not to use him from the start. Contra is back in form whereas Ogararu and Stoican aren't, so he should play. Dumitru is back in the team? I don't think he has played much international football since 2003, but he is alright. Niculescu looks the most likely to partner Mutu.

As for the effectiveness; we will use the wings more with a team like this. Mitea, Contra and Dumitru are good runners and we can get some crosses to the strikers, from the right side at least, with Pancu on the edge of the box. Mutu will have to run a lot to act as a playmaker at times.

Against Armenia we can relax a bit more than in Rotterdam. Perhaps Dorinel will be replaced with Radoi, in midfield.

Anyway, we should go for a WIN in both games, just as Piturca wants.

HAI ROMANIA!

We should go for the WIN of course! With the Liverpool spirit!

HAI ROMANIA!

Forget Dumitru, that needs to be Cernats place for the starting lineup. And why are we still wasting our time with Dorinel?!!! Is Tibi Ghioane still in the mix of things or are we looking past him for now? Is Niculescu the best partner for Mutu in this game?

We're wasting time with Dorniel because Piturca's got a plan to make Dorinel the most capped player in order to upset Hagi on his hidden agenda.

Dorinel will play on the NT until he'll be the most capped Romanian player. Then Piturca will forget about him.

Haha that is really amazing, but it doesn´t surprise me :moan:

that's a rumor, it's not proven

we're fu**ed

what a crap line up, im with Marius on this we are stuffed....

freakin shits me that outta so many good players we have, they can't freakin put a formula together and get a winning team out there...

realistically I think the best we can hope for is a tie.. but we need to play to win.. having said that though if we go out there trying to score 3 goals in the first 20 min, the Dutch will catch us with our knickers down and stuff a big Dutch torpedo between our cheeks, er I mean goal posts

I'll hope for the best, but prepare for the worst..I'm pissed off that I leave Romania before the game and I might not be able to watch it..are they showing it on Fox Sports, or Fox World/Soccer or whatever?

Hai Romania!!!

I dont know about Stoica... havent seen his game play but I wouldnt consider Dorinel and Dumitru at all...

Adrian Ilie, Gîlcă, Bărăcuan, Marica, Iencsi and Cernat were dropped from the team by Piturca. I wonder how Cernat will react. The rest aren't good enough though, Marica should play with the u21s.

The remaining foreign based players in the squad are Lobonţ, Stoican, Raţ, Pompiliu Stoica, Chivu, Pancu, Mitea, Mutu and M. Niculae.

Oh, and they expect folks to show up for the Armenia game. Ignoring the fact that they only bring 3rd rate teams in cities outside of Bucharest, they actually expect me to pay money to see a team with Pompiliu Stoica in it. :yuck:

Razvan Rat will take Pompiliu Stoica's place against Armenia.

Bad blow for Cernat. Piturca has a very peculiar method to discourage players.

Piturca is an idiot in that sense. Cernat should be in the squad vs Holland.

Dutch squad vs Romania and Finland:

Portari:
Edwin van der Sar (Fulham / Anglia)
Henk Timmer (AZ'67 Alkmaar / Olanda)

Fundaşi:
Khalid Bhoulahrouz (SV Hamburg / Germania)
Mario Melchiot (Birmingham City / Anglia)
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (FC Barcelona / Spania)
Johnny Heitinga (Ajax Amsterdam / Olanda)
Nigel de Jong (Ajax Amsterdam / Olanda)
Barry Opdam (AZ'67 Alkmaar / Olanda)
Ron Vlaar (AZ'67 Alkmaar / Olanda)
Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven / Olanda)
Theo Lucius (PSV Eindhoven / Olanda)
Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven / Olanda)

Mijlocaşi:
Mark van Bommel ( PSV Eindhoven / Olanda)
Philip Cocu ( PSV Eindhoven / Olanda)
Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax Amsterdam / Olanda)
Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax Amsterdam / Olanda)
Denny Landzaat (AZ'67 Alkmaar / Olanda);

Atacanţi:
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United / Anglia)
Arjen Robben (Chelsea Londra / Anglia)
Dirk Kuijt (Feyenoord Rotterdam / Olanda)
Ryan Babel (Ajax Amsterdam / Olanda)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal Londra / Anglia)
Roy Makaay (Bayern Munchen / Germania)
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven / Olanda)

FULL TEAM
Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobonţ (Ajax Amsterdam), Martin Tudor (Steaua Bucureşti);
Defenders: Flavius Stoican, Răzvan Raţ (both Shakhtar Donetsk), Cosmin Contra, Gigel Coman (both Poli Timişoara), Mirel Rădoi, Sorin Ghionea (both Steaua Bucureşti), Gabriel Tamaş (Dinamo Bucureşti), Cristian Chivu (AS Roma), Pompiliu Stoica (FC Moscova);
Midfielders: Daniel Pancu (Beşiktaş Istanbul), Florentin Dumitru, Dorinel Munteanu (both Steaua Bucureşti), Florentin Petre, Ştefan Grigorie, Mihăiţă Pleşan (all Dinamo Bucureşti), Ovidiu Petre (Poli Timişoara)
Strikers: Adrian Mutu (Juventus Torino), Nicolae Mitea (Ajax Amsterdam), Marius Niculae (Sporting Lisbon), Claudiu Niculescu (Dinamo Bucureşti).

UNDER21 TEAM
Goalkeepers: Sebastian Hutan (FC Sheriff Tiraspol), Mihai Mincã (FC Apulum Alba Iulia)
Defenders: Sorin Rãdoi (Sportul Studentesc), Mãdãlin Murgan, Cosmin Moti (both Universitatea Craiova), Daniel David (FCM Bacãu), Lucian Goian, Cristian Pulhac (both Dinamo Bucuresti), Mihai Nesu (Steaua Bucuresti)
Midfielders: Ovidiu Herea (FC National), Rãzvan Cocis, George Florescu (both FC Sheriff Tiraspol), Silviu Izvoreanu (Otelul Galati), Radu Mãrginean (CFR Ecomax Cluj), Andrei Prepelitã (FC Arges), Bãnel Nicolitã (FC Steaua)
Strikers: Hristu Chiacu (FC National), Ciprian Marica (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Costin Curelea (Sportul Studentesc), Andrei Cristea (FC Steaua).

the U-21's look really good

how can piturca leave out cernat, ghioane and bucur :wallbang:
i hope the boys will run like crazy in this game and stay calm, thats our only chance, the dutch are far away from unbeatable, i just don't want to see this long balls again like in the last game :groan:

i want to see one of these 2 line-ups:

ne sparg Olandezii

No Cernat, Ghioane and Bucur...

a good playmaker, a good defender and a very good striker...

Piturca should know that Cernat is better than Munteanu, Ghioane better than Ghionea and Bucur better than Niculescu :-/