Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: Underdogs Romania plot French upset

Underdogs Romania plot French upset
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SportsDesk on 08 June, 2008 01:28:43
 
By Nick Reeves
Zurich
June 8: Romania’s Scottish Premier League-based striker Marius Niculae
believes his countrymen should use a little Highland know-how if they are to
bely their underdog tag and silence France’s bark in Monday’s Group C opener
in Zurich.
Raymond Domenech’s France are vying for favouritism to lift the championships
and will be out to reinforce that status against a Romanian side that pipped
fellow Group C rivals the Dutch in qualifying.
And Niculae, who plays for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, reckons Romania are in
with a squeak of upsetting the two time winners and 2006 World Cup finalists if
they follow the example set by Scotland, who beat France twice in qualifying.
"Maybe we can learn something from the way the Scots played against France,"
the 27-year-old attacker suggested. "They were very compact and took their
chances when they came along. Our first game is the most important game because
we want a good start and we hope to get some points on the board against
France," he said.
Teaming up with Niculae in trying to breach the seasoned French defence which
has not leaked a goal in their last four matches is Romania skipper Adrian Mutu.
The Fiorentina forward reckons that if Romania make it out of the group of
death it will surpass their last eight placing in 2000 from a group featuring
Portugal, England and holders Germany.
Mutu, in his first major finals since, said: "It was a hard group in 2000 but
we didn’t have to play the World Cup winners and the team they played in the
final. None of the teams wish to play in this group. It is the hardest group
ever."
Yet Mutu, reeling after being confronted with a 12 million euro lost revenue
bill from Chelsea over his seven month cocaine ban in 2003, doesn’t
underestimate the monumental task facing them. "We have a tough draw on paper
and only those who like an adrenaline rush would bet on us, but we will do our
best and a positive result against France would give us real impetus for the
games against Italy and Holland. As our captain Cristian Chivu said, ‘It’s
time for us to show what we can do." — AFP