Chivu ready for Romania return

By Paul-Daniel Zaharia

Romania coach Victor Piturca has recalled four key players following absences of at least a year from the international stage.

Stelea out
AS Roma's Cristian Chivu, FC Dynamo Kyiv's Tiberiu Ghioane and the FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara duo of Viorel Moldovan and Cosmin Contra are all welcomed back. However, FC Dinamo Bucuresti goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea is omitted due to a lack of form.

Steaua strength
Romania face the Netherlands in Bucharest on Saturday before travelling to Skopje to take on F.Y.R. Macedonia four days later. Piturca has nine foreign-based players in his 22-man squad while of the remaining 13, seven are from FC Steaua Bucuresti, who have just missed out on the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

Must-win match
Piturca said: "The match against Holland is decisive. We have only one alternative, victory, while the Dutch can afford a draw. I hope the players who come back after a long period will bring substance to our game." Romania are level with the Dutch on ten points at the top of Group 1, but have played a game more.

Romania squad
Lobont (AFC Ajax), Popa (FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara), Contra (FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara), Ogararu (FC Steaua Bucuresti), Radoi (FC Steaua Bucuresti), Chivu (AS Roma), Iencsi (FC Spartak Moskva), Ghionea (FC Steaua Bucuresti), Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), Marin (FC Steaua Bucuresti), Petre (FC Dinamo Bucuresti), Ghioane (FC Dinamo Kiev), Galca (UD Almería), Munteanu (FC Steaua Bucuresti), Pancu (Besiktas JK), Plesan (FC Universitatea Craiova), Mitea (AFC Ajax), Ilie (FC Zürich), Cristea (FC Steaua Bucuresti), Bucur (FC Sportul Studentesc), Moldovan (FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara), Oprita (FC Steaua Bucuresti).