Romania came from a goal behind to defeat Slovakia in the Cyprus Football Association's International tournament in Larnaca. Romania began much brighter but, against the run of play, Slovakia took the lead with their first attack. Henrich Bencik played a pass into Robert Vittek, and his shot wrong-footed Romanian defender Cristian Chivu and goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonţ to screw into the back of the net. Romania continued to dominate the game but chances were few and far between. Dorinel Munteanu had the best opportunities, both from long range and both requiring some smart goalkeeping from Slovakian goalkeeper Juraj Bucek to keep his team ahead. Munteanu finally found his way past Bucek in the 38th minute as he worked his way through the middle of the pitch before unleashing a shot from 35 metres to equalise. With five minutes to go before half-time Munteanu turned provider. His corner caused havoc in the Slovakian penalty area and a mistake by Bucek gave Ioan Ganea the chance to score from close range. Romania dominated the second half, and captain Adrian Mutu had excellent opportunities in the 64th and 89th minutes. Slovakia had a solitary opportunity as Karol Kisel went close with a header from ten metres. Romania will now meet Russia in the tournament final on Thursday. Coach Anghel Iordănescu was pleased to have pulled off a win with a slightly under-strength squad. He said: "Even before the tournament, I had decided to use the best team in the match against Slovakia, the team that I am going to use for the most part against Denmark, in March. I didn't have a few players".

Russia clinched the Cyprus Football Association tournament with a comfortable friendly victory against Romania in Nicosia today. The Russians had qualified for the final of the four-team contest with a 1-0 win against their Cypriot hosts yesterday. Romania made it through with a 2-1 victory against Slovakia. Despite going a goal behind in today's first-ever meeting of the sides, Valeri Gazzaev's men battled back and were deserved winners. Gabriel Tamaş put the Romanians in front with a header from Cristian Dancia's cross on eleven minutes but Russia fought back with three goals in 12 minutes. First Florin Şoavă deflected a cross into his own net on 29 minutes before 24-year-old Andrei Karayka made it two five minutes later by connecting with a Rolan Gusev cross. Then, with Romania hoping for half-time, Denis Evsikov found Andrei Arshavin and he made no mistake to score his team's third in the 41st minute. Gusev put the game beyond the Romanians with a 58th-minute penalty after Dmitri Kilichenko was brought down. Anghel Iordănescu's men did close the gap with a spot-kick of their own in the 70th minute, converted by Ştefan Grigorie, but it failed to spark a Romanian revival. The tournament triumph is a boost for Russia ahead of their next UEFA EURO 2004™ group qualifier in Albania on 29 March. Russia, with two wins from two in the qualifiers, are second in the standings behind Switzerland but have played a game less. Romania, second in Group 2, travel to third-placed Denmark on the same day.

This was an extraordinary match but one Romanian football will want to forget. Beaten 5-2 at home in a game they could well have won, Romania subsequently lost their coach when Anghel Iordanescu announced afterwards he was quitting his post. The scoreline did not reflect a game that for long periods Romania dominated, but a 45-metre effort and an own goal summed up their luck in an extraordinary encounter. "I don't remember seeing a game like this in my career," said the outgoing Iordanescu, whose resignation was followed by the news that Gheorghe Popescu and Iulian Filipescu have retired from the national team. Romania led 1-0 and 2-1 but ended up suffering a second successive home defeat in qualifying, as Denmark climbed to the top of Group 2 with their second win of the campaign. Iordanescu, who felt his team had suffered "incredible bad luck", said: "We've lost six vital points at home to Norway and Denmark and I must assume my responsibility and the only logical thing to do is step down." No one would have foreseen the post-match turmoil when Romania's early pressure earned them a goal after just five minutes. Vlad Munteanu curled in a free-kick from the right and Adrian Mutu dived in to beat Thomas Sorensen. However, four minutes later, Denmark surprisingly pulled level on a sandy National Stadium pitch dubbed 'Copacabana' by the Bucharest press. Again the goal came from a free-kick as Thomas Gravesen's right-footed centre reached the head of Ebbe Sand. The striker's effort was saved by Bogdan Lobont, but Dennis Rommedahl was first to the rebound with a strong, angled shot. The home side could have fallen behind before the break when Jon Dahl Tomasson delayed his shot in a one-on-one with Lobont and the goalkeeper touched the ball away. Two minutes into the second period, however, Romania made it 2-1. Mutu broke down the left, left two Danish defenders for dead and cut the ball back to the onrushing Munteanu who made no mistake with his powerful shot. Again, though, the lead did not last long. After Lobont emerged from his box to clear from the advancing Sand, Gravesen returned the ball with interest from 45 metres out. The Everton FC player's outrageous lob curled into the net on a perfect arc before the goalkeeper could recover. "It difficult to play away to a team like Romania, we were lucky to equalise so soon both times," said Denmark coach Morten Olsen, who admitted: "It was a strange game." Despite this setback, Romania continued to attack but Denmark's defence held firm and a two-minute spell brought them victory. With 19 minutes left, substitute Morten Wieghorst sent a high cross into the home box, Laurentiu Reghecampf attempted to head the ball to Lobont but the alert Tomasson pounced to score. In the Danes' next attack, Rommedahl sent a cross in from the left which was missed by Tomasson but struck the luckless Cosmin Contra and deflected in. Suddenly, the game was beyond Romania, despite good efforts from Mutu and a shot narrowly wide by Ioan Ganea. Denmark salted the wound with virtually the last kick of the game, Rommedahl playing a one-two with Sand and chipping the goalkeeper to seal.

A goal from Florin Daniel Bratu proved enough for Romania to earn a 1-0 win away to Lithuania in tonight's international friendly in Kaunas. The AFC Rapid Bucureşti striker scored the only goal of the game three minutes past the hour, escaping the attentions of the Lithuania defence and steering his shot past goalkeeper Gintaras Stauce from close range. Romania were always in control after taking the lead, and rarely looked like letting their narrow advantage slip. Both sides created a number of goalscoring opportunities in an open game. Dmitrijus Guscinas – a 24th-minute substitute for Robertas Poskus – went close to giving the home side the lead six minutes before half-time, forcing Romania goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonţ into a sprawling save. Romania coach Anghel Iordănescu will be hoping the win boosts his side, who currently lie in third place in UEFA EURO 2004™ Group 2. Romania have six points from their four matches played so far, having won two and lost two, including a 7-0 away success in Luxembourg and a 5-2 reverse at home to Denmark. They next face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Craiova on 7 June, having already defeated the same opponents 3-0 away from home. In contrast, Lithuania are currently second in Group 5, level on points with leaders Germany, although they have played two games more, and above Scotland, who they defeated 1-0 on 2 April, on goal difference. Lithuania's five games have brought them seven points. They next face Iceland on 11 June in Kaunas.

The win moved Anghel Iordanescu's side to within one point of the top of the table following Denmark's 1-0 win against Norway, and means that just a single point separates the top three sides. Romania have nine points from their five games so far, and next face second-placed Norway away on Wednesday. Bosnia's hopes, meanwhile, suffered a setback with this result, and Blaz Sliškovic's team must wait until September for the chance to repair the damage when they face Norway. The first half was a tight affair, with the best chance falling to Ioan Ganea after two minutes, but the VfB Stuttgart striker was unable to find the target. The away side quickly responded through midfield player Mirko Hrgovic whose volley forced a fine save from Bogdan Lobont five minutes later. Romania made the breakthrough 20 seconds into the second period as Parma AC striker Adrian Mutu, who was a threat throughout, took advantage of some poor defending to open the scoring. The goal forced the visitors to abandon their defensive style and push forward in search of an equaliser, and Romania exploited the extra space in the closing stages as Ganea scored the second goal two minutes from time with a long-range lob. Iordanescu was pleased with his side's win, but insisted that the Norway game would be the real test. "We played as if our lives depended on it, but we got three points to accomplish half of our task over the next few days," he said. "In the first half we were unable to play our normal game because of the heat and our opponents. Under such circumstances, this was a hard-fought victory. However, the most difficult part is just beginning." His opposite number Sliškovic was in philosophical mood after the game. "We came here for a point and were close to achieving that but, unfortunately, we failed to get a goal in the early stages," he said. "The game was heading towards a 0-0 draw but we made a defensive error and allowed Romania to open the scoring. Before the match I told my players that Adrian Mutu and Ioan Ganea needed to be marked very tightly and they were not. Romania were better than us in the final part of the match."

Ole Gunnar Solskjar stepped up to stroke the equaliser past Bogdan Lobont from the spot after the Romanian captain, Cristian Chivu, was penalised for handball in a crowded area as the home support in the Ulleval stadium began to get restless. It was the only blot in Chivu's copybook as he set about steering his side, lit up by Adrian Mutu's fancy footwork, to what would have been an unexpected victory thanks to Ioan Ganea's calmly taken 64th-minute goal. As it stands, a point will do Romania's chances of qualifying no harm - but Norway have now dropped five points in as many days after their 1-0 defeat against Denmark at the weekend. Evidently desperate to return to winning ways, Norway started brightly despite the heavy rain and almost found themsleves ahead early on. Just six minutes had elapsed when Cosmin Contra conceded a free-kick which was drilled in low and struck the left-hand post after a clever touch from Solskjar before a relieved Lobont smothered the loose ball. Employing a rapid attacking game utilising Solskjar's fast breaks and the height of Valencia CF striker John Carew, Norway continued to press but were denied by an organised Romania defence, marshalled superbly by Chivu, whose brightest moment was an outstanding interception as Solskjar seemed certain to turn in Carew's square pass on 13 minutes. The best chance of the first half fell to the visitors when Mutu drilled a pass across the face of goal only for Ganea to be denied at point-blank range by Frode Olsen, the 35-year-old Norway goalkeeper. Two good opportunities fell in Norway's direction as the interval approached. First John Arne Riise stabbed the ball straight at Lobont from the edge of the area. Then, in added time, the ball broke to Solskjar, whose powerful effort drew a fine parry from Lobont. Romania's best spell followed the half-time break and for 20 minutes they were the only side in contention. Daniel Pancu went close with a 51st-minute header and then the goal came. Mutu bravely set Ganea through and although he still had two defenders to beat, Henning Berg and Ronny Johnsen contrived to let the striker muscle his way through before watching on helplessly as he placed the ball past the advancing Olsen. It seemed that might be enough but even after the penalty which brought the equaliser, Chivu almost made amends when he dived in to toe a low cross goalwards - but Olsen made a save to ensure a share of the spoils. Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu said: "We played well, especially in the second half, and dominated most of the play. We were robbed." But Norway coach Nils Johan Semb insisted: "We deserved to lead by the the break. They got a bit lucky with their goal although we ran completely out of steam in the second half."

The third match between Ukraine and Romania was won again by Romania which has 1-0, 4-1 and tonight, 2-0. Romanian players had a very good day, especially Mutu and Pancu, but also Chivu who annihilated completelly the captain of Ukraine, Andri Shevchenko. We can say that Buryak’s players had just two opportunities (both from corners) in minutes 4 and 5, missed by Serhi Fedorov. In minute 8, Alin Stoica passed very good on left side to Razvan Raţ, he crossed at Daniel Pancu who shooted powerful in the right bar of Shovkovsky. The debutant Daniel Opriţa profited of a mistake of Ukraine defence and he was faulted in penalty area by Popov, the referee showing the point from 11 metres. New star of Chelsea, Mutu, transformed the penalty kick impeccable: Ukraine 0, Romania 1. After the break, Ukraine didn’t attack how Romanians expected and our players had more dangerous actions. So, right defender of Dinamo, Flavius Stoican, dribbled two opponents, the ball came at Adi Mutu and he shooted powerful, without a chance for Ukrainean goalkeeper. Ukraine 0, Romania 2. In minute 67, the supporters of Ukraine became angry and started to apostrophize their players. Even so, in minute 75, it heard loud applause when on the field entered former player of Shakhtar Donetsk, Marian Aliuţă. In last minutes, Iordănescu prefered to conserve the result, making more substitutes. We are hopeing that Romania will have a day the same as today in preliminary European Championship match against Denmark and "Abramovich", new nickname of Mutu, to be in the same form.

As it was expected, Romania defeated without emotions modest team of Luxembourg. Coach Iordanescu started the match with veteran Dorinel Munteanu as titular, he overthrowing the record of Gheorghe Popescu (115 selections) and being on second place in all-time table of selections at national team (leader is Gheorghe Hagi with 125 matches). Romanian players dominated from the begining, but in first 15 minutes they didn't have a good oportunity to score. Romanians asked a penalty kick in minute 16, when the shot of Pancu was diverted with hand by Reiter, but the Israelian referee Yafet, let the play to continue. On 20 minutes Razvan Rat had a shot turned on to the post by Luxembourg goalkeeper Alija Besic. One minute later Munteanu crossed after a free kick from the left side and Chivu headed, missing the post a little. In 39 minute, Ganea entered in the penalty area from the right side, passed to Mutu who, after a few feints, shooted powerful in the net of Luxembourg. The "ice being broken", second goal came after 3 minutes; Chivu passed to Pancu, who advanced a little and send a torpedo from 22 metres which stoped in the net of Alija Besic. In 43 minute, Mutu, in the penalty area, crossed with head to Munteanu, he shooted but goalkeeper diverted till Ganea and he scored very easy. After the break, Iordanescu didn't want to risk anymore and replaced Mutu and Chivu with Bratu and Soava. The 3 points were resolved and the match transformed in a training with public. The guests could score a goal of honour in 65 minute, when Braun, let free by Soava, headed the ball in the right post of Lobont, who idled till then. With 12 minutes before final whistle, Ganea received the ball in the penalty area, crossed with heel to Bratu, and new striker of Galatasaray Istanbul defeated the fourth time goalkeeper Besic. No yellow card, no injury, we took the 3 points, so, the "General" executed his purpose. But will he win the final battle next Wednesday with Denmark?

The result does not guarantee Denmark qualification from Group 2, but means they retain the leadership. Romania will now need to look to a play-off to qualify for Portugal. It was a bitter blow for Anghel Iordanescu's side, who wasted three golden chances to score a third goal in the closing stages. The build up to the game was filled with expectation, as both sides could still qualify as winners of the section. Denmark were buoyed by the inclusion of star striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was soon causing the visitors problems. On 12 minutes, many in the ground thought the hosts had the lead as Niclas Jensen curled a powerful free-kick into the sidenetting. The opening goal arrived in the 35th minute. With the Romanian defence on the back foot, Adrian Iensci felled Tomasson in the box. The AC Milan striker got up and took it himself, sending a powerful right-footed spot-kick past the outstretched arms of Bogdan Lobont. After the break, Romania took the game to their hosts in increasingly cavalier fashion. Ioan Ganea missed the first chance on 53 minutes following fine play from Razvan Rat. Soon after the excellent Crisitian Chivu saw a thumping header blocked on the line by Niclas Jensen. On 62 minutes, Romania levelled through Adrian Mutu. Florentin Dumitru's cross from the right was deflected, but Mutu readjusted and chested the ball down. He then turned and squeezed a shot past Thomas Sorensen at the near post. Romania sensed victory and ten minutes later they took the lead. Danish substitute Christian Poulsen's weak header fell straight to Daniel Pancu, who controlled the ball before striking it low and hard beyond Sorensen. Denmark's goalkeeper proved the hero in the closing stages as he repeatedly denied Romania a third. With the hosts pushing forward at every opportunity, gaps were left behind. Mutu, Florin Bratu and Florin Cernat all had chances but could not beat Sorensen. They were left to rue those misses, as, in the fifth minute of added time, Denmark equalised. Niclas Jensen's cross from the left skimmed off the head of Ebbe Sand to Laursen. The big defender controlled the ball before poking it past the advancing goalkeeper for what could be a priceless goal for Morten Olsen's team.

After national team of Romania lost qualification at EURO 2004, today played a friendly match with Japan, but the hour when started the match (13:15, to can be watched at Tokyo at a hour of maximum audience) made to be present in tribunes just 3.000 fans. Among them, at official tribune, were players from golden generation, like Gheorghe Hagi, Gheorghe Popescu, Dan Petrescu, but also chairmans of Romanian Football Federation, Mircea Sandu and of Football Professional League, Dumitru Dragomir. As it was expected, times when Romania entertained with Japan had passed, the Asians from today being much more powerful than 20 years ago, when Romanians won with 4-1, 4-0 and 3-1 in friendly matches. The match started in a slow rhythm, first oportunity having Japan, when, after a corner, Lobont came out wrong at the cross. In minute 14, Ionel Ganea was fauled at 16 metres, but Cristi Chivu shooted deplorable from free-kick. But after two minutes, Adrian Mutu got a cross from right side, entered in the penalty area and even he was pressed by Keisuke Tsuboi, he shooted from angle, defeating goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi who thought the star of Chelsea will cross. In minute 29, the Dinamovist Flavius Stoican wanted to cross, the ball took a curious trajectory and just the sensational reflex of Kawaguchi made that Japan not to receive the second goal. Japan profited by relaxation of Romanians, and in minute 37, Shinji Ono crossed from corner and defender Yuji Nakazawa sent the ball with head, but the goal was saved by veteran Dorinel Munteanu. At this phase Chivu was injuried, the player of AS Roma needing 3 minutes of medication. In additional time, Razvan Rat made a superb race from left side, crossed, and debutant Nicolae Dica shooted over the post. At the beginning of second half, striker of Bursaspor, Ionel Ganea received a pass from Dorinel Munteanu, entered in area but his shot wiped the post from left of Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi. In 58 minute, the best player from the field, Hidetoshi Nakata, passed brilliant in the penalty area to Atsushi Yanagisawa, and striker of Sampdoria Genoa placed the ball behind Lobont... Romania-Japan 1-1. Obtaining the equalization, the Nipons were satisfied by the result and let Romania to dominate. So, Mutu, from free-kick, shooted a little beside the post. At a contraatack, Japan could scored by the same Atsushi Yanagisawa, but Lobont stopped the ball. In minute 70, Daniel Pancu got a pass in the area, dribbled two defenders and alone with goalkeeper, shooted much over the post... With 6 minutes before the final, Nakata passed to Yanagisawa and Lobont kicked the ball into corner. In minute 87, Andrei Cristea, midfielder of FCM Bacau, crossed in the penalty area, the defenders erred, the ball got to Mutu, but he couldn't beat Kawaguchi, who retained. Romania-Japonia ended 1-1, in a match not too spectacular, but which brought the debute at national team of 3 new players, all from Divizia A: Nicolae Marius Dica (FC Arges Pitesti, the goalgetter of Divizia A), Andrei Cristea (FCM Bacau) and Ianis Alin Zicu (Dinamo Bucharest). "The General" knows that for qualification at World Championship from Germany 2006 the team needs "fresh blood" and a match against stars like Nakata, Ono or Yanagisawa was an advantage for young Romanian players.

Italy beats Romania 1-0 in the friendly match in Ancona and, as the head coach Trapattoni had hoped, redeemed itself after the 3-1 loss of Wednesday in Warsaw against Poland. Di Vaio scored the winning goal on 58', allowing the National team to close 2003 with a win, after having already qualified for the upcoming European Championships. As in Poland, both teams went on the field with mourning bands on the arms and observed a minute of silence in honor of the victims of Nassiriya. Italy starter off well and after 1' of play Totti verticalized perfectly for Cassano, stopped by the linesman for offsides . On 7' Romania tried to attack with Bratu, but his right-footed shot went well over the crossbar of the net defended by Toldo. The Azzurri responded immediately with two occasions in two minutes (8' and 9'), first with Totti with a right-footed shot and the Bazzani with a header that gave the Romanian goalkeeper Lobont something to worry about. On 14' Mutu tried to put Toldo to the test with a shot from far off, but the ex-forward of Parma sent the ball over the crossbar, just like Bratu had done previously. Bazzani on 18' received a pass from Totti and forces Lobont to make a low save. The team coached by Trapattoni is back up front around half an hour into the first half with Totti sending a pass off tot Zambrotta and closed up the wide triangle with a shot that Lobont has a hard time saving, especially after Bazzani's attempt to head the ball right after. On 37' another occasion for Italy: Cassano stops the ball with his chest at the limit of the area, and without letting the ball touch the ground, sends a right-footed shot just off to the side of the Romanian net. This was the last occasion of the first half that highlighted the good dribbling skills of Romania and an Italian national team that seemed to spark up every time Totti touched the ball. In the second half, Trapattoni wanted to give playing time to everyone and so he starter the substitutions by sending in Di Vaio, Ambrosini and Abbiati for Cassano, Tommasi and Toldo. Simone Inzaghi, Marchionni and the newcomer Castellini went in shortly after substituting for Bazzani, Panucci and Cannavaro. The Italian team maintain control of the situation and on 58' goes ahead thanks to Marco Di Vaio, who, just on the edge of being offsides, receives a millimeter pass from the right from Totti and unleashes a shot that goes right into the net past Lobont. This was the Juventus player's second goal with the National team in 10 matches played. Romania does not want to lose and starts playing with a certain amount of insistency near Abbiati. But once again Italy could have doubled the score with Di Vaio, who all along in front of Lobont sends an assist to Simone Inzaghi whose shot is saved by the Romanian goalkeeper. Shortly after, Totti receives a standing ovation from the crowd in Ancon and leaves the field substituted by Pirlo. And the Milan player comes close to scoring on 74' with a strong, but central, shot after a good exchange with Simone Inzaghi. Mutu almost ties the score with a free kick as the match came to and end, but Abbiati made the save. Di Vaio then forced Lobont to save with his feet and the match then ended with the Azzurri deservingly winning their last official match of 2003.