Romania vs Serbia: victory is crucial

Star striker Adrian Mutu claimed Romania must beat Serbia in their 2010 World Cup qualifier on Saturday if they are to remain in contention for a place at next year's finals.

The 30-year-old, Romania's third all-time scorer with 29, said that a draw would not be good enough against a side that presently tops Group 7 with nine points, though, the Romanians on four points have a game in hand.

"We cannot just come away with a draw against Serbia," said Mutu.

"This match is vital because if we don't win, we won't have a chance of qualifying," added Mutu, who also said that they must take three points off Austria on April 1.

The Fiorentina marksman claimed Serbia had an advantage because their players played in tougher championships than most of the Romanian squad and called on his compatriots to motivate themselves so that they would not allow this to be replayed out on the pitch.

"We have shown before that we can play as well as stronger teams than us such as against France (a 2-2 draw in their World Cup qualifier last October) and Holland (a 1-0 victory in a Euro 2008 qualifier)," said Mutu, who is just six goals short of Romania's leading all-time scorer Gheorghe Hagi.

Netherlands doesn´t have problems: they beat Romania 2-0

At Stade de Suisse Wankdorf, Berne; Holland defeated Romania 2-0. Klaas Han Huntelaar opened the game scoring while Robin van Persie scored the second and last goal of the match.

During the game Romania never was dangerous and Netherland demonstrated that it is one of the best teams at the EURO 2008.

Lineups:
Netherlands: Stekelenburg, Boulahrouz (Melchiot 58), Heitinga, Bouma, De Cler, De Zeeuw, Engelaar, Afellay, van Persie, Robben (Kuyt 62), Huntelaar (V of Hesselink 82).

Romania: Lobont, Contra, Tamas, Ghionea, Rat, Cocis, Codrea (Dica 72), Chivu, Nicolita (Nicolita 82), M Niculae (D Niculae 59), Mutu.

Goals: 54min. Klaas Han Huntelaar, 87 min. Robin van Persie.

Luca Toni vs Franck Ribery: the revenge

France and Italy will play an important meeting. Maybe the most important one at EURO 2008. They must win and wait a Netherlands victory or draw. If not, Romania will be the team who will be part of the quarterfinals, representing the “death group” in the final stage.

But before this match Ribery and Toni had been in front each other, in spite of they are Bayern Munich partners. Let´s see what happened in this You Tube video...

France vs. Netherlands... What happen if?

After Italy - Romania draw:

* If Netherlands defeat France, The Oranje clinch the group C at EURO 2008 and could play against Romania without the main players. That situation would beneficiate the next opponent, Romania (who have won two points and would be in the second position).

* Italy prefer a French win. Then, if they defeated France in the last match, they reach four points. The same as France.

* A draw would beneficiate Italy too. Why? Because if they beat France and Romania didn´t beat Netherlands they will qualify.

We had said that they could reach quarterfinals with only five points. Maybe the teams only need four points to be part of the best eight European teams. They have some chances...

Adrian Mutu, Samir Nasri and Bafetimbi Gomis couldn’t save a poor draw

At Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich; France and Romania only drew without goals.

Romania’s Mutu tried; whereas France had some chances via Benzema and Ribery. Nasri only was in the field 12 minutes so that time was not enough for him.

As it occurred during the weekend, we saw little risk and a poor game. Let us hope that won’t be worse since the eliminatory quarterfinals, when each error is more important.

In this Group C we have the feeling that we could see qualified teams just with five points won and that each tie is important. We could remember the Group F of the WC 1990 when we watched only a victory by England against Egypt in that zone that also composed Holland and Ireland.

The Lineups:
Romania: Lobont, Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat, Cocis (Codrea 63), Radoi (Dica 90), Chivu, Nicolita, Daniel Niculae, Mutu (Marius Niculae 78).

France: Coupet, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal, Ribery, Toulalan, Makelele, Malouda, Anelka (Gomis 72), Benzema (Nasri 77).

Yellow Cards: Niculae, Contra, Goian (ROM); Sagnol (FRA).

Michael Ballack and Oliver Neuville saved Germany against Serbia

This weekend we have a friendly storm. Waiting anxiously the EURO 2008 matches, here we have saturday results.

Germany 2 - Serbia 1

Germany 0 - Serbia 1: Bosko Jankovic; 18th minute.
Germany 1 - Serbia 1: Oliver Neuville; 74th minute.
Germany 2 - Serbia 1: Michael Ballack; 82nd minute.

The important forward: Coach Joachim Loew had taken the precaution of resting striker Miroslav Klose, who has a minor ankle problem.

Lineups:
Germany: Jens Lehmann, Philipp Lahm (Lukas Podolski, 45), Per Mertesacker (Arne Friedrich, 45), Christoph Metzelder, Marcell Jansen (Heiko Westermann, 84), Clemens Fritz, Torsten Frings (Simon Rolfes, 70), Michael Ballack, Bastian Schweinsteiger (David Odonkor, 79), Mario Gomez, Kevin Kuranyi (Oliver Neuville, 70).

Serbia: Vladimir Stojkovic, Antonio Rukavina, Nemanja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic, Ivica Dragutonovic, Milan Smiljanic, Stefan Babovic, Bosko Jankovic (Zoran Tosic, 82), Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Sasa Ilic (Dejan Milovanovic, 73), Marko Pantelic (Danko Lazovic, 45).

Spain 2 - Peru 1

Spain 1 - Peru 0: David Villa; 38th minute.
Spain 1 - Peru 1: Hernan Rengifo; 76th minute.
Spain 2 - Peru 1: Joan Capdevila; 90th minute.

Lineups:
Spain: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila; Andres Iniesta (61', Santiago Cazorla), Xabi Alonso (46', Marcos Antonio Senna), Xavi (46', Cesc Fabregas), David Silva (84', Sergio Garcia); David Villa (57', Ruben De La Red) y Fernando Torres (46', Daniel Gonzalez Güiza).

Peru: Leao Butron; Guillermo Salas, Alberto Rodriguez (24', Miguel Villalta), Walter Vilchez, Luis Hernandez; Nolberto Solano (90', Miguel Cevasco), Rainer Torres, Rinaldo Cruzado (46', Juan Carlos Mariño), Martin Hidalgo (73', Donny Neyra), Daniel Chavez (65', Hernan Rengifo); Paolo Guerrero.

France 0 - Paraguay 0

...zzz...zzz...zzz...

Lineups:
France: Gregory Coupet; Patrice Evran, Francoise Clerc, Sebastien Squilaci, Jean-Alain Boumsong; Jeremy Toulalan (70 Nasri), Claude Makelele (46 Diarra), Frank Ribery (46 Govou), Florent Malouda; Thierry Henry (46 Gomis), Karim Benzema (62 Anelka).

Paraguay: Justo Villar; Denis Caniza, Pedro Benítez, Paulo Da Silva, Darío Verón, Aureliano Torres; Victor Caceres (82 Santana), Edgar Barreto (89, Carlos Paredes), Sergio Aquino (41 Estigarribia); Roque Santa Cruz (56 Cardozo) y Nelson Haedo Valdez (68 Nelson Haedo).

Portugal beat Georgia 2-0

Joao Moutinho; 19th minute.
Simao Sabrosa (penalty kick); 45th minute.

Lineups:
Portugal: Ricardo (Quim 46), Bosingwa (Miguel 63), Ricardo Carvalho (Bruno Alves 46), Pepe (Fernando Meira 63), Paulo Ferreira, Petit (Miguel Veloso 46), Joao Moutinho (Hugo Almeida 71), Deco (Raul Meireles 46), Cristiano Ronaldo (Nani 46), Simao Sabrosa (Ricardo Quaresma 46), Nuno Gomes (Helder Postiga 63).

Georgia: Loria, Lobjanidze, Asatiani, Khizanishvili, Navalovski (Merebashvili 82), Kenia (Barabadze 69), Mentesashvili (Sanaia 69), Kobiashvili, Tskitishvili (Klimiashvili 46), Iashvili (Devdariani 46), Aleksidze.

Romania 4 - Montenegro 0

Adrian Mutu: 15th minute
Sorin Ghionea: 49th minute
Nicolae Dica: 55th and 70th minute

Lineups:
Romania: Lobont (M Popa 46), Contra, Tamas (Ghionea 46), Radu, Rat, Petre, Radoi (Codrea 46), Cocis (Dica 46), Chivu, Marica (Marius Niculae 46), Mutu (Daniel Niculae 46).

Montenegro: M Bozovic, Pavicevic, Tanasijevic, Jovanovic (Ognjanovic 76), V Bozovic, Bogavac (Dalovic 70), Drincic, Pekovic (Novakovic 72), Boskovic, Burzanovic (Jovetic 46), Vucinic (Porovic 86).

Hungary 1 - Croatia 1

Hungary 0 - Croatia 1 Niko Kovac: 23th minute.
Hungary 1 - Croatia 1 Niko Kovac again ! (auto-goal): 44th minute.

Lineups:
Croatia: Pletikosa, Corluka, R Kovac (Knezevic 62), Simunic, Pranjic, Srna, N Kovac, Modric, Kranjcar (Vukojevic 62), Petric (Klasnic 46), Olic (Rakitic 46).

Hungary: Fulop, Bodnar, Vasko, Juhasz, Bodor, Gera, Dardai (Szelesi 88), Vadocz, Dzsudzsak (Orosz 63), Hajnal, Huszti.

Mutu, Chivu and Marica lead provisional Romania Squad

Romania coach Victor Piturca has named 26 players who have chances to be part of the most difficult group of EURO 2008. They will play vs. France, Italy and Netherlands. Before the tournament the tricolorii will face the Montenegro Football National Team.

The 26 Romanians:
Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), Danut Coman (Rapid Bucharest), Marius Popa (Politehnica Timisoara).

Defenders: Cristian Sapunaru (Rapid Bucharest), Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest), Sorin Ghionea (Steaua Bucharest), Cosmin Moti (Dinamo Bucharest), Cosmin Contra (Getafe), Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre), Stefan Radu (Lazio), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk).

Midfielders: Florentin Petre (TSKA Sofia), Paul Codrea (Siena), Razvan Cocis (Lokomotiv Moscow), Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan), Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest), Ovidiu Petre (Steaua Bucharest), Nicolae Dica (Steaua Bucharest), Banel Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest), Adrian Cristea (Dinamo Bucarest).

Forwards: Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Daniel Niculae (Auxerre), Marius Niculae (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Florin Bratu (Dinamo Bucharest), Ciprian Deac (CFR Cluj).

Samir Nasri: another Zinedine Zidane

Still who doesn’t follow French football too much already knows this player who will be representing France in the Group C answering for expectations of those who miss Zidane . Samir Nasri is son of Algerians too and was born in Marseille 20 years ago. He is playing in Olympique of Marseille team but the club couldn’t be able to get pleasure from him a lot of time.

His dribbling and his ambition to attack the rival area make him a different player, like the ones that do not proliferate. Their movements keep in mind players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Zinedine Zidane…

If he improves the definition, he will be the best of the world in a short time. If you think that it is an exaggeration just watch him.

Cristian Chivu: the Carpathians captain

Cristian Eugen Chivu was born in Resita, Romania on October 26th, 1980 and grew up in Fotbal Club Municipal Resita, club that it had between his squads Dudu Georgescu - European Golden Boot to winner in 1975 and 1977 - and Dorinel Munteanu among others.

Today the actuality is another one: the FCM Resita is in the second Rumanian division whereas the central defender grew playing in Universitatea Craiova, in Ajax and in Roma before his move to Inter Milan.

While the Italian team is closely to win the Scudetto, Romania arrived at Group C of the EURO, the group of death. France, Italy and Netherlands also want the quarterfinals. But Romania, with Chivu as captain, will look for the surprise and they know how: it surpassed the classification of the EURO without problems in front of own single Netherlands and losing before Bulgaria.

His defensive solidity, the subtility in his depth passes, his free kicks near the penalty area and the Adrian Mutu´s powerful, will be essential in the Romania structure that it will look for to be the surprise in EURO 2008.

Luca Toni: friend of the goal

Luca Toni Varchetta Delle Cave is on fire. The effectiveness that he is showing these days transforms him into one of the best forwards of the moment. Always, he is where he has to be and takes advantage very well its height to score with the head within a Bayern Munich that is searching for three titles in this season.

Today Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose must alternate in the hardest team in Germany because Luca is immovable. The Bavarians invested 18 million Euros but he justifies the cost: he scores 27 goals in 32 matches. Really really amazing.

Although he is 30 years old, whenever he makes a goal his face is transformed into the one of the happiest boy of the world. He was capocannonieri in Calcio in 2005-2006 season and is in this way in the Bundesliga.

Tonigol scored 15 goals with the azzurra t-shirt and Netherlands, Romania and France will need to pay attention for him in the EURO. Italy is solid in defense but that does not shine in the opponent’s penalty area. The romance between Toni and the goal will be vital.

Oranje Luxury

Netherlands will play all the first round matches in Berne. But The Oranje will be living in Lausanne, the capital of the International Olympic Committee.

The players will be lodged in The Beau-Rivage Palace, a luxurious hotel indispensable for a great level team that desires all the comfort to have an excellent performance. This attractive hotel has 180 rooms in six floors and is located within a magnificent property of 40,000 ms ² of surface and offers wonderful views of the Leman Lake and the French Alps.

Van Basten, Rud Van Nistelrooy, Clarence Seedorf, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Robin van Persie and all the team could make use of a covered swimming pool, a gymnasium and two tennis courts. In the beach it will be able to practice different aquatic sports and it is near the Golfclub Lausanne.

There have been stayed Victor Hugo, Camille Saint-Saens, Charles Chaplin, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, Gary Cooper, Sacha Guitry, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito, Nelson Mandela, King Hussein of Jordan and Phil Collins, amongst other famous people.

We will see if this beautiful place will give luck to Holland that will face Italy, Romania and France in the most difficult group of EURO 2008 in the Road to repeat the 1988 success.