Romania in the goals

Romania produced two clinical performances against Georgia as their UEFA European Futsal Championship finals debut draws near.

Convincing wins
The first friendly on Wednesday in Buzau was won 8-0. Cosmin Gherman and Dumitru Stoica scored late in the first half, and in the second Marian Sotarca, Ion Al-Ioani and Lászlo Szöcs all struck twice. Last night Iacob Gabriel Molomfalean claimed two goals and Al-Ioani, Csoma Alpar, Gherman, Stoica and Mihály Zoltán one apiece in a 7-0 success.

'Useful tests'
Coach Zoltán Jakab said: "Despite the fact these were big wins, they were very useful tests. On the one hand, it was better that Georgia defended so much and so tightly, because that allowed us to work on what we would do in such conditions. When they tried to attack, it enabled us to try other tactics. Eleven of the 14 players I used play together at CIP Deva, including myself as head coach, and the benefit of this is clear. It is good that CIP Deva will play their [UEFA] Futsal Cup group in Russia, because those really tough matches are also ideal preparation for the national team."

Warm-up programme
Jakab's Deva are in UEFA Futsal Cup Elite round Group D against hosts MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg, SK Energia Lviv and Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion in the middle of next month. His national side go to Egypt for friendlies on 24 and 26 October, before welcoming Belgium to Bucharest on 11 and 12 November. They open their debut finals campaign against the Czech Republic in Porto four days later, with games to follow against Italy and hosts Portugal.