Results with France

1932 Romania - France: 6-3 (Friendly)
1967 France - Romania: 1-2 (Friendly)
1969 France - Romania: 1-0 (Friendly)
1970 France - Romania: 2-0 (Friendly)
1972 Romania - France: 2-0 (Friendly)
1974 France - Romania: 1-0 (Friendly)
1975 France - Romania: 4-0 (Olympic Games qualifiers)
1976 Romania - France: 1-0 (Olympic Games qualifiers)
1994 France - Romania: 0-0 (Euro 96 qualifiers)
1995 Romania - France: 1-3 (Euro 96 qualifiers)
1996 France - Romania: 1-0 (Euro 96)
2002 France - Romania: 2-1 (Friendly)

 

We don't have such a bad record against France. By the way, when I read the title of the thread I thought I was thrown into a time warp.

 

By the way, when I read the title of the thread I thought I was thrown into a time warp.

Why?

 

Dica should be ahead of Cocis. Petre is a liability, Nicolita or even Cocis should be there. The team isn't creative enough, Mutu and Marica will be lost and have no help because Fl. Petre is as good as France being allowed a 12th man.

I like the plan B with the Niculaes a la vs. Russia and Montenegro in the 2nd halves. Its a good plan and the players seem to know eachother well. AND its a final tournament so we want to turn heads. It doesnt matter who we're playing, Romania is a good attacking team and its good to take a risk. I'd rather put on a show and not get so far than 1-0 our way to the final or whatever. Greece did that and nobody was impressed.

Its funny how we play a lot more attractive football when Mutu isnt on the pitch. He's vital though of course.

Hopefully plan B doesnt come in too late.

HAI ROMANIA!!!

 

Its funny how we play a lot more attractive football when Mutu isnt on the pitch. He's vital though of course.

But that´s not because of Mutu. In the 2nd halves vs Russia and Montenegro Piturca clearly put more offensive weapons or creativity in midfield, so that´s why we attacked more.

 

Having watched the game again on Antena1.ro, I have to say Cocis needs to start. He is a very hard worker and pretty much mows the whole field.

 

Thats right, Dica and Cristea were both on the pitch in the second half.

 

And I think Piturca will start with Cocis almost for sure. Cocis or Codrea.

The 3 DMs: Cocis/Codrea, Radoi and Chivu.

The right wing: Fl.Petre/Nicolita/or even Cocis



Dica benchwarmer until his services are needed, I think.

 

2907 to more exact.

24/06/2000 Italy - Romania 2 - 0
09/06/2008 Romania - France

Hai Romania!

 

:howler: I knew this would happen.

Replace him for the 23 man squad but what about on the pitch? They have Toualan, Nasri and Diarra who can play central midfield.

Toulalan, and he is a very good player too.:moan: Vieira is more technical and experienced but Toulalan is in better shape.

 

They´ve called Flamini to replace him if he´s finally out.

 

Replace him for the 23 man squad but what about on the pitch? They have Toualan, Nasri and Diarra who can play central midfield.

 

Probably Toulalan. I don´t know too much of that Diarra.

 

Toulalan-Makelele will be our defensive mids.
Rotated with Diarra and Flamini.

 

i heard that Toulalan didn't play good in the friendlies...

 

In the first training session in Switzerland, Piti tried with this team:

Lobonţ - Contra, Goian, Ghionea, Raţ - Dică, Codrea, Chivu - Fl. Petre, M. Niculae, Mutu.

 

THis pic looks funny at first glance but when you look closely you realize that they are not fooling around. They are really focused and I am sure they are discussing strategy...

 

there are only a few pending questions imo:

M. Niculae or Marica? i think Piti considers D.Niculae as Mutu replacement and not as the lonely starting striker.

2 out of these 3: Codrea, Cocis and Petre although Petre should have the biggest chances, Nicolita has slim chances to play instead of Petre...

i also think that there could be one big surprise: Ghionea instead of Tamas. Tamas wasn't good lately and Ghionea's big plus is that he is used to play with Goian very good together and Steaua's defensive record this season is impressive, like every year.

i don't know if Dica can make the squad because in this system there just isn't room for him...could he play Petre's position or is he completely wasted there?

 

I think Piti never tried with Dica there (in Petre´s position). He prefers more pure wingers in that position like Petre or Nicolita. If what the press says is true, Dica could play more in midfield, in creation tasks.

Piturca thinks on M.Niculae to hold the ball and look for Mutu coming from behind. Marica could be dangerous in the 2nd half due to his pace.

 

if Marica's morale is good he can be a strong weapon for us, perfect to bring on for the last half an hour or even from the beginning but i have my doubts after i saw a lot of games from him. if he's still not motivated (which would mean he's a 2nd Cernat considering he's playing such a big tournament) he could be completely useless for us and sometimes i have the feeling it doesn't take much for a defender to make him really pissed off. we are playing with 10 men if Marica decides he's not in the mood to play football today.
therefore i would start with Marius!

is Dica strong enough defensively for Codrea's/Cocis position or would this mean that Piti surprises us all and wants to play really offensive?!

 

is Dica strong enough defensively for Codrea's/Cocis position or would this mean that Piti surprises us all and wants to play really offensive?!

Using Dica authomatically means being more offensive. He can help defensively but he is not in the field for that. It´s just a test anyway, but if Piti is actually considering him it´s because he sees the benefits of having another player who can score easily and has so much class, but won´t be marked as Mutu. The last friendly made that very clear, and we saw it in the qualification games where Dica played. Let me remind everyone here that Dica started against Germany with Mutu and Marica, and we played a great first half. But in the second we were outplayed and IMO that´s when Piturca decided we couldn´t risk that much against a big team.

 

The question is whether to use M. Niculae against France and Marica against Italy or vice versa. One is strong and the other fast. It will depend a lot of the opponents.

 

Marica is fast?? Certainly didn't seem fast in Bundesliga...

 

Marica is extremely fast when in form.

 

O.K. Now I'm sure Andrei Vochin is reading our forum: http://www.andreivochin.ro/2008/06/02/marica-sau-marius-niculae/

 

This time we'll be taller than the French:

http://www.gsp.ro/stire/sintem-peste-francezi-80575.html

 

Granted, it's primarily due to their 'shrinking' 6 cm's (and us growing an average of 2), but it's good to know we're matched up physically. Wow at their 186 cm average in 2002 though.

Actually, now that I look at it one more time, it's funny how they only examined this stat after Viera was ruled out and replaced by Toulalan, as prior to it would be a tie in terms of average height.

 

They´ll get impressed when they see our giant Florentin Petre

 

I don't think he'll play against the French.

 

Who will play then? Nicolita?

 

Nicolita or Cocis.

 

I doubt Piturca will use someone he never tried there as Cocis. He seems to prefer players that know how to cross and are used to playing on the wings there. As for Banel he lost a lot of ground so i doubt it too.