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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Bogdan Stelea
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(Salamanca, Spain), age 30, 45 caps
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Experienced, athletic keeper with an imposing physique who
dominates his area. Gets down quickly for one so big but can be
suspect on crosses and has suffered from inconsistency this
season.
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Florin Prunea
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(Dynamo Bucharest), 29, 34 caps
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Second-choice
behind Stelea. Criticised for his performance in the penalty
shootout defeat by Sweden in the World Cup quarter-finals in
1994.
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Dumitru Stingaciu
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(Kocaelispor, Turkey), 33, 4 caps
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Solid
all-round keeper but unlikely to figure barring injuries.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Dan Petrescu
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(Chelsea, England), 30, 66 caps
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Veteran of two
World Cups, an attacking right wingback with a calm finish. He
became the first Romanian to play in an English F.A. Cup final
at Wembley when Chelsea beat Middelsbrough 2-0 in 1997. Formerly
with Foggia and Genoa in Italy and English club Sheffield
Wednesday after gaining his break with Steaua Bucharest.
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Gheorghe 'Gica' Popescu
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(Galatasaray, Turkey), 30, 76 caps
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The most complete Romanian player, capable of a decisive
contribution both in attack as well as defence. A fine sweeper,
Popescu was the team's top scorer in qualifying with eight
goals. Previously played for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands,
English club Tottenham and Spanish giants Barcelona. He and
Gheorghe Hagi form the backbone of the side.
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Cristian Dulca
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(Rapid Bucharest), 23, 4 caps
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Responsible
for the error which gifted Israel their winning goal in a
friendly in Bucharest in March.
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Daniel Prodan
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(Atletico Madrid, Spain), 26, 45 caps
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Mainstay of the defence with a habit of scoring important goals
while at previous club Steaua Bucharest. Nicknamed 'Tatuca'
(grandfather), he has not been in the best of form since his
move to Atletico.
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Tibor Selymes
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(Anderlecht, Belgium), 27 (28 on May 14), 44 caps
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A left-sided player, 'Tibi' is noted more for his
lung-busting energy than his technique. Previously at Dynamo
Bucharest and Belgian side Cercle Brugge.
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Anton Dobos
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(AEK Athens, Greece), 32, 20 caps
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Made
international debut in 1995 aged 30 as a replacement for injured
sweeper Miodrag Belodedici. Helped AEK to the European Cup
Winners' Cup quarter-finals this season.
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Dan Potocianu
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(Servette, Switzerland), 24, 1 cap
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A superb
athlete who is strong in the air and has good positional sense.
Technical skills need working on.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Gheorghe Hagi
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(Galatasaray, Turkey), 33, 109 caps
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Romania's
finest player ever, their record goalscorer and a national hero.
Short and stocky, his physique and superb ball skills earned him
comparisons with Diego Maradona at his peak. A master at
free-kicks who alternates moments of brilliance with periods of
anonymity on the pitch. Moved from Steaua Bucharest to Real
Madrid for $4.3 million after the 1990 World Cup finals in
Italy. Subsequent switch to Barcelona did not work out, but has
settled at Galatasaray. Will retire from international soccer
after France.
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Dorinel Munteanu
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(Cologne, Germany), 29 (30 on June 25), 61 caps
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Small at 1.68m but highly effective, bustling midfielder
who has been a consistent performer over the past six years in
the national side. Has habit of scoring important goals.
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Radu Niculescu
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(National Bucharest), 23, 10 caps
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Temperamental character who has rejected tempting offers from
Spain to stay in his homeland. Dangerous around the opposition
penalty area.
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Alin Stoica
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(Anderlecht, Belgium), 18, 2 caps
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The son of
former Steaua Bucharest captain Tudorel Stoica. Made his
international debut this year in Romania's friendly defeat in
Match against Israel in Bucharest.
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Ovidiu Stinga
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(PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), 25, 18 caps
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A
diligent, attacking midfielder likely to be on the bench in
France.
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Iulian Filipescu
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(Galatasaray, Turkey), 24, 14 caps
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Utility
player who can be equally effective in defence, midfield or even
of the left wing.
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Gabriel Popescu
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(Salamanca, Spain), 24, 11 caps
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Excellent
playmaker who scored against Spain in Mallorca in a 1-1 friendly
draw last year.
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Denis Serban
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(Steaua Bucharest), 22, 6 caps
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Impressed in
Europe with Steau this season but missed four months out injured
after hurting himself celebrating a team mate's goal.
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Ilie Dumitrescu
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(Atlante, Mexico), 29, 60 caps
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After
starring in the 1994 World Cup, Dumitrescu moved from Steaua
Bucharest to Tottenham in England but failed to establish
himself there or subsequently at West Ham. Has a real eye for
goal and great close control but is often criticised for being
greedy.
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Lucian Marinescu
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(Rapid Bucharest), 25 (26 on May 24), 3 caps
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A year ago he was in the Romanian third division, but has
burst into the national squad this season.
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Catalin Munteanu
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(Steaua Bucharest), aged 19, 1 cap
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Prolific scorer in the Romanian league this season and the
finest young talent in the country. Has already received
lucrative offers from clubs in France, Turkey and Spain and, if
given the chance, could make a big impression in France.
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Constantin Galca
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(Espanyol, Spain), 26, 30 caps
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Steady
midfielder with excellent passing ability. He played eight out
of 10 matches in qualifying.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Gheorghe Craioveanu
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(Real Sociedad, Spain), 30, 17 caps
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Another late discovery who has fought his way into the squad.
Skilful feet, though sometimes selects the wrong option.
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Viorel Moldovan
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(Coventry City, England), 25, 22 caps
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Started with Dynamo Bucharest but came into his own as a
goalscorer with Swiss club Grasshoppers. Physically strong, but
has not made an immediate impact in England.
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Adrian Ilie
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(Valencia, Spain), 24, 18 caps
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Former Steaua
Bucharest midfield star who has exploded onto the scene this
year as a forward both in Spain and for his country. Nicknamed
'The Cobra' for his habit of striking from nowhere. A direct
runner with an accurate shot, he could be one of the stars of
France 98.
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Ion Vladoiu
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(Cologne, Germany), 29, 24 caps
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Sent home from
1994 World Cup after being sent off against Switzerland getting
involved in an altercation with a team-mate. Has failed to
maintain his prolific club form on the international stage, but
is a hugely determined character.
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Marius Lacatus
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(Steaua Bucharest), 34, 80 caps
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Veteran
Romanian player who is one of the last remnants of the great
Steaua side of the 1980s. A star of the 1990 World Cup finals
but lost form at Fiorentina in Italy and Real Oviedo in Spain
and was omitted from the 1994 World Cup squad. Now enjoying a
second youth at Steaua, he remains a canny, gifted player with
the nouse to unlock any defence.
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