BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania coach Victor Piturca dropped Dinamo Bucharest striker Florin Bratu on Wednesday when he named his final 23-man Euro 2008 squad.
He had already sent home injured midfielder Ovidiu Petre, goalkeeper Danut Coman and uncapped midfielder Ciprian Deac from his provisional squad for the June 7-29 tournament.
Experienced 28-year-old Bratu had been in good form for his club at the end of the domestic championship but Piturca decided to leave him at home, according to the announcement on the Romanian soccer federation Web site (www.frf.ro).
Midfielder Florentin Petre backed the decision, telling media: "I'm so sorry for Bratu but he must understand that Piturca's strategy probably meant he had to leave him at home."
Bratu's omission suggests a return to a more defensive system, a successful strategy in the past for the counter-attacking Romanians.
Romania, whose last qualification for a major event was at Euro 2000, are in Group C with France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Petre said: "We have all lived through bitter times watching our opponents playing on TV.
"The worst was that we failed to reach the (major) finals three times in a row, but not because we played worse than our opponents."
Fellow midfielder Razvan Cocis of Lokomotiv Moscow said: "We want our play to offer fans the opportunity to celebrate our success on the streets, like they were doing when Gheorghe Hagi was playing."
At the 1994 World Cup, Romania, led by Hagi, reached the quarter-finals.
Source: Reuters
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania coach Victor Piturca dropped Dinamo Bucharest striker Florin Bratu on Wednesday when he named his final 23-man Euro 2008 squad.
He had already sent home injured midfielder Ovidiu Petre, goalkeeper Danut Coman and uncapped midfielder Ciprian Deac from his provisional squad for the June 7-29 tournament.
Experienced 28-year-old Bratu had been in good form for his club at the end of the domestic championship but Piturca decided to leave him at home, according to the announcement on the Romanian soccer federation Web site (www.frf.ro).
Midfielder Florentin Petre backed the decision, telling media: "I'm so sorry for Bratu but he must understand that Piturca's strategy probably meant he had to leave him at home."
Bratu's omission suggests a return to a more defensive system, a successful strategy in the past for the counter-attacking Romanians.
Romania, whose last qualification for a major event was at Euro 2000, are in Group C with France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Petre said: "We have all lived through bitter times watching our opponents playing on TV.
"The worst was that we failed to reach the (major) finals three times in a row, but not because we played worse than our opponents."
Fellow midfielder Razvan Cocis of Lokomotiv Moscow said: "We want our play to offer fans the opportunity to celebrate our success on the streets, like they were doing when Gheorghe Hagi was playing."
At the 1994 World Cup, Romania, led by Hagi, reached the quarter-finals.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: 1-Bogdan Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), 23-Eduard Stanciou (CFR Cluj), 12-Marius Popa (Poli Stiinta Timisoara)
Defenders: 2-Cosmin Contra (Getafe), 15-Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest), 14-Sorin Ghionea (Steaua Bucharest), 4-Gabriel Tamas (Auxerre), 17-Cosmin Moti (Dinamo Bucharest), 13-Cristian Sapunaru (Rapid Bucharest), 3-Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), 22-Stefan Radu (Lazio);
Midfielders: 5-Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan), 6-Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest), 7-Florentin Petre (CSKA Sofia), 8-Paul Codrea (AC Siena), 20-Nicolae Dica (Steaua Bucharest), 16-Banel Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest), 19-Adrian Cristea (Dinamo Bucharest), 11-Razvan Cocis (Lokomotiv Moscow);
Forwards: 10-Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), 9-Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), 21-Daniel Niculae (AJ Auxerre), 18-Marius Niculae (Inverness Caledonian Thistle).