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Piturca stays hopeful despite injuries
by Paul-Daniel Zaharia from Bucharest
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Adrian Mutu and Cristian Chivu have been beset
by injuries (¿Getty Images)
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Victor Piturca has maintained since December's UEFA EURO
2008T draw that the coaches of Romania's Group C rivals "have a bigger
pool of players to choose from", so a spate of injuries to key players
has not helped preparations.
Problems aplenty
Romania will need to be at their best in June when they come up against
the formidable trio of France, Italy and the Netherlands - but with four
Serie A-based players struggling for fitness, their peak is some way off.
S.S. Lazio defender Stefan Radu is out with a thigh injury and, alongside
AC Siena midfielder Paul Codrea (knee), is doubtful for the 26 April friendly
against fellow finalists Russia. Striker Adrian Mutu has played just once
in four weeks while centre-back Cristian Chivu presents an even bigger
worry.
Shouldering the burden
The captain has played through the pain barrier all season having postponed
surgery on a troublesome left shoulder to help club, FC Internazionale
Milano, and country. "I spoke to Cristian and he will not have an
operation till after June," said Piturca. "Our doctor recommended
he did something weeks ago, but nobody and nothing can force him now.
I hope everything will be OK in June." Chivu has made 17 Serie A
starts for Internazionale this term, only failing to last the 90 minutes
three times - though the vision of him leaving the field during the first
half of Romania's 3-1 friendly defeat by Germany in September hangs like
the Sword of Damocles for Piturca.
Welcome return
Mutu's eligibility has also been a concern but the ACF Fiorentina man
appears to have shaken off his knee ligament problems, marking his return
with a sensational goal and assist as the Viola beat Genoa CFC 3-1 on
Sunday. The strike was Mutu's 15th of the campaign in Serie A and - when
fit - the forward is in the form of his life. It is enough to raise Piturca's
hopes. "We have our chances and anything is possible," he said.
"We can achieve our dream, to play the final, and even to win it.
Team emphasis
"Our team must not rely on one or two individuals and we have to
play as a unit," the coach continued. With that in mind, he has recalled
former Sporting Clube de Portugal forward Marius Niculae, 26, following
a two-year international exile. Niculae knows a thing or two about injuries
but, now plying his trade in Scotland with Inverness Caledonian Thistle
FC, he is seemingly in rude health. If only the same applied to more of
Piturca's men.
Euro2008.uefa.com,
20 March 2008
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