Bad break for Niculae
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Article summary
Marius Niculae has been ruled out of Romania's next two qualifiers after breaking a bone in his foot.
Article body
Sporting draw
The striker suffered the injury to his fifth metatarsal bone during Sporting Clube de Portugal's 1-1 draw with CD Nacional in the 1. Liga, and will be out of action for at least four weeks. However, if doctors decide he needs surgery, he could be sidelined for two to three months.
Latest setback
The injury is the latest setback in Niculae's injury-plagued career at Sporting. Since joining from FC Dinamo Bucuresti in 2001 he has suffered a serious knee ligament injury, which kept him out for six months, as well as two earlier fractures in the same foot that is now injured again. "If God exists, he has been very hard with us," said Sporting coach Lazslo Bölöni when asked about his striker's latest misfortune.
Important games
Romania are currently third in Group 2 with six points from four games, and face Bosnia, who also have six points, in Craiova on 7 June before travelling to Oslo four days later hoping to close the four-point gap on group leaders Norway. Their task will be made all the harder for the absence of Niculae, who has hit ten goals in 22 international appearances.
