Romania had imagined another preparation match on the road to the Euro – a second meeting is scheduled for this Friday against Lichtenstein. Held in check by a Bulgaria that was more hardworking than talented, the Tricolori showed offensive shortcomings and suffered some defensive scares in the second period. That the public whistles at the end of the match is a clear indication.
Deprived of Burca, in central defense, and Alibec, in attack, Edward Iordanescu did not change his game plan, with Rus to accompany Dragusin in the defensive axis and Denis Dragus (Standard) at the forefront. attack, in an evolving 4-2-3-1.
In possession, Marius Marin came between the central defenders to allow the full-backs, Ratiu and Bancu, to move up a notch. This provision, which could be seen against Belgium, must offer possibilities for Man and Mihaila, the wingers, to enter the game, while Dragus has zoned out a lot.
But the plan did not bring many guarantees, or clear opportunities, despite greater possession. The first dangerous opportunity, at the end of the first period, was a long ball from Razvan Marin (ex-Standard) towards Dragus, which the attacker was unable to convert into a goal.
The second period could have given another idea of what Romania is capable of doing, if Man had converted the penalty from Stanciu (ex-Anderlecht), pushed by Atasanov (50th). In the process, it was even Bulgaria which could have opened the scoring, but Nita, started on goal to the detriment of Moldovan, was able to intervene on a strike from Kolev (53rd).
If it put a little more energy after this alert, the Tricolori were not really more dangerous, and this is one of the confirmations in view of this match: Romania is not a team capable of making big differences.
The rises of Birligea, Coman and Hagi, in the 60th, could have set another trend, on certain sequences, but there was always an element missing to make the difference, and a disagreement between Dragusin and Nita could even have cost the defeat, not to mention two situations which could have been punished afterwards.
