The Tricolors are back at the highest level of the continent after an eight-year absence and an undefeated qualifying campaign, in which they played 10 games unscathed against Switzerland, Israel, Belarus, Kosovo and Andorra to finish as winners of the organization.
After taking possession of the national team in January 2022, Edward Iordanescu, like his father Anghel Iordanescu, managed to get Romania to participate in the European Championship, with the country’s only victory in the contest coming against England at the Euro 2000 stage level. . Formation
There is genuine confidence that the elegance of the 2024 Tricolours can create its own magic at this summer’s tournament in Germany, with a favourable organisation including Belgium, Ukraine and Slovakia, giving Iordanescu’s men hope that they can qualify for the knockout stages.
While UEFA revealed in May that competing nations would be allowed to take 26 players to Euro 2024, Romania have been given more space in their squad as they look to change the odds at this summer’s tournament.
Sports Mole take a look here at Romania’s squad for Euro 2024, which is already decided and are some of the names that will be absolutely absent.
Having helped his team to just five goals in qualifying, Atletico Madrid’s Horatiu Moldova is Roguyia’s first-choice goalkeeper and unsurprisingly has been part of the team, however, the former Rapid Bucuresti player has played for the Spanish giants since arriving in the January transfer window.
As a result, 36-year-old Florin Nita could uproot the Moldovan and earn his place in the sticks for the start of the European Championship, with the Gaziantep striker initiating the 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland in March, while Stefan Tarnovanu’s younger option will take on the role of third choice.
The main call-up in the Tricolor team is undoubtedly centre-back Radu Dragusin, who secured a high-profile move from Genoa to Tottenham Hotspur in January, and although the defender discovers Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero in the pecking order in north London. , the 22-year-old is the most important man in his country.
Andrei Burca, who offers experience in the centre of the back line alongside Spurs star Dragusin, is coming off a Saudi Pro League relegation season with Al Okhdood, and the veteran will play 30 caps for Romania in the summer programme.
In addition to Dragusin, there is great joy in protecting the Tricolors thanks to the participation of Andrei Ratiu in Rayo Vallecano’s La Liga team, with Vasile Mogos and Nicusor Bancu complementing Iordanescu’s full-back duties for this summer’s competition.
The son of Romanian football star Gheorghe Hagi, Ianis Hagi will try to write his own legend in Germany. However, the striker arrives at the tournament after a complicated loan at Deportivo Alavés in Spain, where he was frustrated due to lack of resources. time to play.
Perhaps the first call-up in the squad, Nicolae Stanciu has been chosen for the Tricolores team and will be the captain of his country this summer, as the attack-minded midfielder has scored 14 goals in his overseas career to date, more than any of his teammates.
After receiving a good run of games on loan at Bari in Serie B in the second part of his tenure, former Reading striker George Puscas has been part of the squad, and the 28-year-old is fit to battle with the 37- He covers veteran forward Denis Alibec for the position in the middle of Iordanescu’s attack.
Scheduled to be part of the Euro 2024 squad after the March international break, Olimpiu Morutan has been out of the tournament since last April, when the winger suffered a season-ending cruciate ligament injury while playing for Ankaragucu against Besiktas in Turkey. Cup.
Despite being in the books of Italian giants Inter Milan, Andrei Radu has been left out of the squad for this summer’s match in Germany, as the goalkeeper has only made two Premier League appearances on loan at Bournemouth this season while playing alongside Brazilian Neto. .
Raul Oprut of Romanian side Hermannstadt started his country’s last match against South American powerhouse Colombia in March. However, the left-back was not included in the team this time around, with Bancu ready to take advantage with a free kick on the left side of the defence.
Other notable omissions include Cristian Manea and Florin Tanase, who were selected for friendlies against Northern Ireland and Colombia earlier this year, but this time they were ruled out.
Goalkeepers: Florin Nita (Gaziantep), Horatiu Moldavian (Atlético de Madrid), Stefan Tarnovanu (FCSB)
Defenders: Nicusor Bancu (Universitatea Craiova), Andrei Burca (Al Okhdood), Ionut Nedelcearu (Palermo), Adrian Rus (Pisa), Andrei Ratiu (Rayo Vallecano), Radu Dragusin (Tottenham Hotspur), Vasile Mogos (CFR Cluj), Bogdan Racovitan (Rakow Czestochowa)
Midfielder: Nicolae Stanciu (Damac), Razvan Marin (Cagliari), Alexandru Cicaldau (Konyaspor), Ianis Hagi (Rangers), Dennis Man (Parma), Valentin Mihaila (Parma), Marius Marin (Pisa), Darius Olaru (FCSB), Deian Sorescu (Gaziantep), Florinel Coman (FCSB), Adrian Sut (FCSB)
Forwards: George Puscas (Genoa), Denis Alibec (Muaither), Denis Dragus (Standard de Liège), Daniel Birligea (CFR Cluj)
Having led Romania to a comfortable top spot in their Euro qualifying campaign with games to play, one might believe that Edward Iordanescu enjoys unanimous support from his country ahead of his first appearance in a primary tournament since Euro 2016 in France, but that’s not the case.
The 45-year-old is criticised for his conservative technique in matches, an argument supported by the fact that the Tricolours have scored just 16 goals in 10 qualifying matches while unbeaten in this group, adding six at the European Championship. Meetings.
However, Iordanescu’s good fortune in turning Romania into a solid defensive unit must be ruled out, especially after a worrying start to the team’s reign in 2022, when the Triclours were relegated to Nations League C, completing the back end of an organisation that includes Bosnia and Herzegovina. , Finland and Montenegro.
The son of former Romanian coach Anghel Iordanescu, who guided his country to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup, Edward’s CV in football control is more modest, a Romanian name with CFR Cluj in 2021 represents a very commendable moment .
17 June: Romania 3-0 Ukraine (14:00 | Allianz Arena, Munich) 22 June: Belgium 2-0 Romania (20:00 | RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne) 26 June: Slovakia 1-1 Romania (17:00 | Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt)
All BST start times