Romania - The army is ready

Romania 

 It’s been a very tough era for Romanian football, after Hagi and his golden generation hanged their boots. This is their only 2^nd participation in big competitions in the XXI century, and they are bound to improve their record, as in 2008 they were in the group of death and ended up with no wins.

How they qualified

In a group that didn’t have a clear favorite to win it, Romania presented with a very pragmatic approach that gave them extremely good results. 5 wins, 5 draws, a very strong defense (only two goals conceded!) and an effective offense. They weren’t the most enjoyable team to watch, but they did their job extremely well.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Ciprian Tatarusanu (Fiorentina), Costel Pantilimon (Watford, Silviu Lung (Astra Giurgiu).

Defenders: Cristian Sapunaru (Pandurii Targu Jiu), Alexandru Matel (Dinamo Zagreb), Vlad Chiriches (Napoli), Valerica Gaman (Astra Giurgiu), Dragos Grigore (Al-Sailiya), Cosmin Moti (Ludogorets Razgrad), Razvan Rat (Rayo Vallecano), Steliano Filip (Dinamo Bucharest).

Midfielders: Mihai Pintilii (Steaua Bucharest), Ovidiu Hoban (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Andrei Prepelita (Ludogorets Razgrad), Adrian Popa (Steaua Bucharest), Gabriel Torje (Osmanlispor), Alexandru Chipciu (Steaua Bucharest), Nicolae Stanciu (Steaua Bucharest), Lucian Sanmartean (Al Ittihad).

Forwards: Claudiu Keseru (Ludogorets Razgrad), Bogdan Stancu (Genclerbirligi), Florin Andone (Cordoba), Denis Alibec (Astra Giurgiu).

Vlad Chiricheș

Club : Napoli (ITA)

Age : 26 years

 A quality center back, he spent one year in Benfica before going back to Romania. At Steaua he showed his leadership and versatility, being able to play as both right and left back with effectiveness and his intelligence is his most prominent quality.

 Wasn’t particularly happy at Tottenham and is now at Napoli trying to get back some time and confirm himself as one of the good European center backs.

Nicolae Stanciu

Club : Steaua (ROU)

Age : 23 years

 Since he was a teenager he’s been referenced by bigger clubs for a transfer. At 17 only financial differences made the deal between Unirea and Stuttgart fall through. From Unirea to Steaua, with two years at Vaslui, Stanciu has been the star of Romania’s historic club, and has a chance in the Euro he’s able to play in bigger leagues.

Anghel Iordănescu

Known as The General, he’s a very experienced manager. Was involved in politics until 2014 when his national team called him up to the 3^rd time in his career. As a player he won the Champions League for Steaua, achieving the final as a manager. A very tough individual that will be always demanding more of his player, strategy that already worked in a qualification.

What to expect from them?

 Romania is a team with very simple and well trained process, the one that will be in France. A very strong and compact defense that doesn’t budge, trying to do quick counters to score in the few chances they will be able to create.

 This was how they qualified and there is no reason to believe Iordanescu will change this mentality, as they are a team much more confident when seen as the underdog.

Romania will be a very, very difficult team to beat, and it’s hard to imagine there will be a lot of goals in their games. 

FIL' Starting XI prediction