'Big step' for Dorciuman

Relaxed
"I am very lucky, delighted to have been given the honour of refereeing a final – it must have been a very difficult decision as all referees in this tournament were great," a relaxed Dorciuman told uefa.com at the officials' hotel in Blois. In general she says she believes that "all games are pretty much the same" but the 34-year-old admits that the final of a big tournament is an obvious exception to this rule. "I am really motivated as this game is very important for me to make my next big step," explained the Pitesk-based PE teacher. "I am not nervous; I feel good and am looking forward to it. It will also be good because all my friends and my family can watch me on television."

Experience
Added to FIFA's referee list in 2002, Dorciuman was selected for the 2004 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship in Finland and so is used to the daily routine of short, intensive training sessions and video analysis. Not to mention the games, and in the Loire Valley she was in the middle for the England-Sweden and France-Spain matches, acting as fourth official on the other two matchdays. It is a hectic schedule but as she usually plies her trade in the men's second division in her native Romania, she is well used to the pace of the game. "Refereeing the men's matches is a good preparation for international duties," said Dorciuman, who typically officiates at one game a week, and has also appeared in the top flight.

Collina respect
It can be a frenetic pace, though Dorciuman's previous playing experience stands her in good stead. "It's easy for me to anticipate where the ball is going and what happens next," she said. Now she hopes to impress with a good performance in the final, and knows exactly where the next "big step" could be, explaining: "I hope to advance to the UEFA élite class and referee in the 2009 UEFA Women's European Championship in Finland." The Pierluigi Collina fan is certainly on the right track.