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It’s now or never for Romania
LYON: The winner keeps their hopes alive. The loser heads for an early exit. Albania and Romania, two gutsy sides that have endured heartbreaking last-minute losses
LYON: The winner keeps their hopes alive. The loser heads for an early exit. Albania and Romania, two gutsy sides that have endured heartbreaking last-minute losses to France, will clash in a do-or-die match on Sunday that will send at least one of them outof the Euros.
Romania enter the match in Lyon in third place in Group A with one point, while Albania have zero. France are already through to the knockout rounds with six points, and Switzerland have four points before the group’s two frontrunners also play on Sunday. Both teams depend results in the France-Switzerland match for making it to the knockout round.
Romania forward Bogdan Stancu has scored his team’s only two goals. But both came from the penalty spot after rash fouls by defenders; in a 2-1 loss to France and in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland that Romania led until the second half.
Albania has yet to find the net, but Italian coach Giovanni De Biasi, who turned 60 on Thursday, is right to be proud of how the tournament debutante has fared so far. On Sunday, it will be strengthened by the return of captain Lorik Cana, who was sent off after two bookings against Switzerland.
Romania manager Anghel Iordanescu has doubts about the fitness of midfielder Mihai Pintilii and defender Razvan Rat, but he can look to Romania’s undefeated record against Albania in eight competitive encounters.
“We want to stay here but the point won (against Switerland) will be worth nothing if we do not beat Albania,” Romania midfielder Andrei Prepelita said. “We are totally focused and will do everything to qualify.”
