UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match: Romania Vs France – Group D
Romania coach, Victor Piturca has said that although a draw against France would be considered a decent result, a win is important for his side too keep their hopes alive of making it to next year’s European championships in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ukraine-c3032.
France travel to play against Romania at the Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest in a Group D game of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.
A tough ask
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belarus-c2849 equally contesting for a second place, it seems that Romania might find it hard to earn a
play off place in Group D.
Time is running out for Romania and Piturca knows that his side has to win every single match left in order to give themselves a chance of playing in the European championships next year.
During a pre-match press conference, Piturca heaped praise on the French side and said, "France are the best team in the group and are favourites to win the match - they have individual players that are worth more than our entire squad. From the midfield
forward they are very dangerous and any one of their players can decide the match.”
Half way through
France coach Laurent Blanc is eying for a win against a resilient Romanian side in Bucharest. A win over Piturca’s men will put Les Bleus in a great position to make it to the next year’s European championships in Ukraine and Poland.
On the third of September, 2011, France defeated Albania 2-1 in Tirana and a another win would definitely make the task easier for the French side.
While talking to the media, Blanc said that with just one away game left, his team is half way through and is looking to add another win in the qualification campaign against Romania before they play the final two games of the Group D at home in October.
Blanc’s side is unbeaten in 12 games and the Frenchman is looking to further stretch the run. "What's for sure is that the fewer matches there are left to play, the more valuable and important the points become. From what I've seen, Romania is a much more
attacking side than Albania. They really look to get forward and France will have to play very well to get the win," said the former Manchester United player.
Team News
Romania
Midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ciprian-Marica-c9258 is a major doubt due to a foot injury.
France
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Anthony-Réveillère-c6232.
Blanc was not entirely impressed by his team’s performance in the 2-1 win over Albania and is likely to replace http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Valbuena-c24690.
Sochaux star http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360 whose impact was silent to say the least during France’s win over Albania. The 23-year-old was in hot form for Sochaux last season and could replace the Manchester City midfielder as Laurent
Blanc looks to change his formation in order to aid last season’s top assist provider in Ligue 1.
Probable starting XI
Romania
Tatarusanu; Sapunaru, Goian, Chiriches, Rat (captain); Bourceanu, Lazar; Nicolita, Tanase, Bucur; Marica
France
Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Abidal, Evra; Cabaye, M’Vila; Rémy (or Valbuena), Martin, Ribéry; Benzema
Prediction
With France not being able to win supporters or their coach in the 2-1 win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Albania-c2834, Laurent Blanc is determined to see his team give a good away performance for one last time before his side plays its last two games of the qualifying campaign at home.
The task might be easy for Les Bleus against a Romanian side that is two points behind second-placed Bosnia in the group standings.
Predicted final score: Romania 0-2 http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899
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