Unbeaten Romania end eight-year finals wait

Having so nearly missed out on automatic qualification with a run of four draws, Romania finally got over the line and into UEFA EURO 2016 with a 3-0 win in the Faroe Islands.

After goalless results against Northern Ireland, Hungary and Greece, frustration was beginning to spread among Romania fans. Indeed, it almost became unbearable during Romania's 1-1 draw with Finland on Thursday, Anghel Iordanescu's side needing a last-gasp Ovidiu Hoban strike to end a team-record 428 minutes without a goal.

It was the 32-year-old's first effort for Romania and another man breaking his international duck, Constantin Budescu, claimed the first two against the Faroe Islands on Sunday before Alexandru Maxim made certain.

Captaining the team in Torshavn was Răzvan Raţ, the sole remaining player from Romania's last final tournament at UEFA EURO 2008. England, Austria and Italy are the only teams that can match Romania's feat of qualifying unbeaten.

Reaction
Anghel Iordanescu, Romania coach
This victory is in a big way a victory by our fans. I'm so sorry about what happened in Bucharest against Finland. We approached the match in an attacking manner, but the ball simply was stubborn and did not want to go in. We deserve qualification and my only regret is that we should have achieved it earlier. I hope this qualification will generate changes in Romanian football because we need them.

Răzvan Raţ, Romania captain
I cannot describe how happy we are. Our joy is unbounded. There was pressure, but at the moment of truth you prove you are the sort of team that can cope with this pressure. There isn't any bigger motivation than the one of being present at a final tournament.

Constantin Budescu, Romania forward
I feel very good about this well-deserved qualification. I wanted to score and I did it, but the qualification is down to the whole team. We had pressure, but it's good that we overcame it and that we kept our focus and did our job despite everything that's been said about us.

Răzvan Raţ reached 100 caps earlier in the campaign©UEFA.com

Key stats
Final tournaments: 4 (most recent 2008)
Best result: quarter-finals 2000
Coach: Anghel Iordanescu
Leading scorers: all-time – Gheorghe Hagi, Adrian Mutu (35); current – Ciprian Marica (25)
Most appearances: all-time – Dorinel Munteanu (134); current – Răzvan Raţ (106)

Record EURO appearances
Overall: Gheorghe Popescu (36)
Final tournament: Gheorghe Hagi (8)

Record EURO goals
Overall: Adrian Mutu (16)
Final tournament: Viorel Moldovan, Cristian Chivu, Dorinel Munteanu, Ioan Ganea, Florin Răducioiu, Laszlo Bölöni, Marcel Coraş, Adrian Mutu (1)