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This is Romania!
Desperate to keep a clean sheet. Trained to destroy, not to build. Hoping for a lucky counter or a well taken free kick. This is Romania. At any level. From the senior national team to the Under 0. We have it in our genes and we’re not making the smallest effort to change our mentality. And you can see it at club level. Where we’re defending. Destroying. Hoping for the counter-attacks that bring once in a lifetime 2-0 wins on Olimpico. And we still wonder why we have slim chances to see Romania at a final tournament in this lifetime…

Romania's U21, a team used to sit back and wait. And has been waiting for a final tournament since 1998!
For those not very familiar with the team in yellow, the weekend was looking promising on Friday evening, when Romania faced England, in front of a packed stadium in Norwich. Sandoi’s eleven that featured one keeper, five natural defenders and five natural midfielders, was trying to switch from a 4-5-1 to a 4-3-3, as the team got hold of possession, being probably the first in the world to try and use three forwards, without having at least one on the field! Read more…
CFR wins the race for Hora’s signature
Wanted by pretty much all the big clubs from Liga I, Ioan Hora was presented today by CFR Cluj, as the latest addition of the Romanian champions. The winger – who can play on both flanks, as well as a second forward – had a very good season for Gloria Bistrita and was requested by Andone to Dinamo, with Rapid also hoping to get his signature, especially with his former coach, Marius Sumudica, ready to join the club this summer.
The 21 years old had been signed by Gloria Bistrita from UTA, after a promising first season in Liga I when he was only 18, and makes another important step in his career at an excellent age and a very good moment, having enough experience in the top flight (88 appearances and 8 goals) and looking prepared to take his game to another level.
Hora signed a five years long deal and CFR Cluj paid around 350.000 600.000 Euros for his services. Knowing Jean Padureanu’s experience, I predict that a couple of players from CFR will go on loan to Gloria next season, as part of the same deal ;-).
Round 22 – match highlights
- FC Brasov – International Curtea de Arges 1-2 (Zaharia 11 / E. Kone 29, Bacila 81)
Fantastic victory for International, the first under Ionut Badea, “transferred” during the winter break from the relegated FC Arges, who are undefeated for three matches and starting to hope again in their chances of survival. Excellent game from the talented wide midfielder Emmanuel Kone (23), who’s a natural right winger, but capped a solid performance on the left side with a deserved secod goal of the season. Kone is currently on loan from CFR Cluj and, surprisingly, CFR misses at this point a wide midfielder on the right of his quality. Surprisingly, the Ivorian’s athleticism was perfect on a pitch covered in snow, a sign that he has fully adjusted to the rather difficult playing conditions from Romania. Brasov is really struggling this year and basically lost any chance to catch a European spot, which is a pitty, thinking of the good displays from the first half of season.
- Pandurii Targu Jiu – Ceahlaul 0-0
This is the third consecutive draw for Filipovic and, although a valuable one, against another team in a difficult situation, Ceahlaul will struggle to produce the needed wins, with such a defensive attitude. The hosts showed once again their limits in attack and this was the last match with Liviu Ciobotariu on the bench, who was immediately replaced by former Pandurii coach Sorin Cartu, also known as “Sorinaccio” for his defensive style, which brought the best out of this ugly team in the past. A second good performance from keeper Razvan Stanca, who was outstanding in the previous round, away at International, producing several saves, including a penalty kick. Read more…