The selector of the Romanian national team, Edward Iordănescu, declared, in an interview granted to FRF TV, that the time for experiments with a view to participating in Euro 2024 (June 14 – July 14, Germany) has passed.
Edward Jordanescu. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
“Broadly speaking, we will only choose from these 28 (number of players), we don't have time to experiment too much. The time for experiments has passed. So broadly from here we will choose. They can only be exceptional cases, in the situation where serious medical problems arise, but we hope they do not. But there are not many solutions at hand, the competitions are mostly over, the players go on vacation and are no longer in the training process. So broadly speaking, from this group of 28 we will choose the lot. I made the batch in the last two and a half years. It was a continuous selection, there were many filters, many analyzes and conclusions. For me, the cohesion of the group, the homogeneity and the history of the players mattered a lot, I mean those who did the hard work in the campaign. I also took on less popular decisions. There have certainly been and will be critics, but I accept them all. A lot can be discussed about the selection, but in the end it was my responsibility and it was based on solid analyzes and arguments“, the coach explained.
Iordănescu claims that among the things that upset him are the medical problems or those related to the evolutions at clubs of certain players that he would have liked in the squad.
“We are facing a beautiful moment that we must treat as a fantastic opportunity. We must continue it and do beautiful things. I am glad that we can prepare this final tournament with most of those who have confirmed in the campaign. And I'm glad that I saw that mentality and fighting spirit, things that we built in this campaign. There are certainly things to worry about, they always are. Because you try to do things as well as possible and you also run into problems, obstacles. One of the few things that upsets me is first of all the fact that some of the guys who actively participated in the qualification have medical problems and are not with us. I think first of all about Moruțan, I feel sorry for him and his injury. I am thinking of Screciu, whose important role I have seen in many moments. I'm thinking of Tudor Băluţă. And there are also boys at clubs who have problems and I would have liked them here with us. And here I am thinking of Tănase, of Cristi Manea, who had many matches in a row without playing, of Andrei Radu, who perhaps made some uninspired choices and has not played for a long time. Unfortunately they are not with us, although I wish they were healthy and playing to count on them“, he mentioned.
The coach is preparing next week's friendly matches as if they were official matches at Euro 2024.
“We are preparing the matches with Bulgaria and Liechtenstein as if we were preparing the EURO games. We are preparing for the final tournament and we want to be very careful and responsible, to be efficient. These are the last corrections that can be made. It's an annoyance of mine that I would have liked us to be better in terms of the number of minutes played, and here I mean the boys from abroad. But that's the situation, that's why it's important to give them minutes now to be well prepared and ready to play. So there are two important tests for us“, said the technician.
Edward Iordănescu hopes that the supporters will come in large numbers both to these last two friendly games and to the final tournament in Germany.
“The presence of fans at these last two matches is crucial. I am glad that we have already managed to return the fans to the Romanian national team. Together with them we certainly have another strength. I ask the supporters of the national team that no matter what happens, because there will be difficult moments in the final tournament, to stay with us until the end. Because the boys and we, the staff, will give everything for them and fight until the end. No matter what happens, for the fans until the end. Together until the end“, Iordănescu added.
The preparation of the tricolors for the final tournament includes two friendly matches that will be played according to the following schedule:
*Tuesday, June 4, 9:30 p.m., Steaua Stadium (Bucharest): Romania – Bulgaria
*Friday, June 7, 9 p.m., Steaua Stadium (Bucharest): Romania – Liechtenstein
The 28 footballers summoned are:
porter
Florin Niță (Gaziantep), Horațiu Moldovan (Atletico Madrid), Ștefan Târnovanu (FCSB), Răzvan Sava (CFR Cluj)
defense
Andrei Rațiu (Rayo Vallecano), Vasile Mogoș (CFR Cluj), Radu Drăgușin (Tottenham), Bogdan Racovițan (Rakow), Adrian Rus (Pafos), Ionuț Nedelcearu (Palermo), Andrei Burcă (Al-Okhdood), Nicuşor Bancu (Universitatea Craiova);
midfielders
Deian Sorescu (Gaziantep), Marius Marin (Pisa), Alexandru Cicâldău (Konyaspor), Răzvan Marin (Empoli), Nicolae Stanciu (Damac), Adrian Șut (FCSB), Darius Olaru (FCSB), Constantin Grameni (Farul Constanța), Dennis Man (Parma), Valentin Mihăilă (Parma), Ianis Hagi (Alaves), Florinel Coman (FCSB);
ATTACKERS
Denis Drăguș (Gaziantep), George Pușcaș (Bari), Denis Alibec (Muaither), Daniel Bîrligea (CFR Cluj).
When and where is Romania playing at Euro 2024
The Romanian national team will have the following schedule at Euro 2024, within the full calendar of group E:
June 17: ROMANIA – Ukraine (Munich, 16.00), Belgium – Slovakia (Frankfurt, 19.00)
June 21: Slovakia – Ukraine (Dusseldorf, 16.00)
June 22: Belgium – ROMANIA (Koln, 22.00)
June 26: Slovakia – ROMANIA (Frankfurt, 19.00), Ukraine – Belgium (Stuttgart, 19.00)
The top two teams from each group, plus the best four third places from all six Euro 2024 groups, qualify for the round of 16.
