Squad details correct up to and including Romania's match against Portugal on 17 June 2000.

Diary

Monday, 15 May 2000 - Romanian coach Emerich Jenei has named his 26-man squad to face Netherlands and Greece in friendly matches before Euro 2000. He has recalled Steaua Bucharest defender Miodrag Belodedici, but young striker Marius Niculae has been left out of what is in reality the provisional Romania squad for Euro 2000. Four players will de dropped before the final party is submitted to Uefa.

Sunday, 21 May 2000 - Emerich Jenei, is bemoaning the absence of his star foreign-based players. Like most of the coaches at Euro 2000, Jenei's players are spread far and wide around Europe. "Most of our stars playing abroad have not finished their club matches. I'm working with only 10 players from the Romanian championship." The lack of players has forced Jenei to cancel a training session which he had planned for the Carpathian mountain resort of Poiana Brasov. Jenei will, however, be boosted by the performance of Gheorghe Hagi in the UEFA Cup Final.

Saturday, 27 May 2000 - Euro 2000 hosts Netherlands kept their morale up by beating fellow European Championship contenders Romania at the Amsterdam Arena. Romania can take little comfort from a match that they were lucky to lose by such a narrow margin.

Tuesday, 31 May 2000 - Goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea will miss Romania's friendly against Greece in Bucharest on Saturday so that he can play for his club Salamanca in a key league match. "I have allowed Stelea to play with his team against Eibar at the weekend. It's important for him and his team," coach Emerich Ienei confirmed. Ajax keeper Bogdan Lobont will stand in for Stelea in the game, Romania's last warm-up fixture before Euro 2000. "Lobont is a good goalie so there won't be any problems in the match against Greece," Ienei added.

Wednesday, 31 May 2000 - Emeric Jenei has announced the squad he will take to the European Championships. Defenders Iulian Miu of Steaua Bucharest and Stefan Nanu of Vitesse Arnhem were left out out of his final 22, as well as midfielders Marius Maldarasanu of Rapid Bucharest and Catalin Munteanu of Salamanca. Veteran defender Miodrag Belodedici, 36, and Dinamo Bucharest midfielder Ionut Lupescu, aged 32 have both been retained.

Thursday, 1 June 2000 - Veteran Romanian midfielder Gheorghe Hagi has reiterated his desire to retire from international football at the end of Euro 2000. The colourful playmaker says his own interest in football will be with Galatasaray as they enter next season's Champions League. "I'm determined to stop my activity with the national team after the Euro finals," Hagi said at the launch of his autobiography in Bucharest. The 35-year-old is out of contract with the Galatasaray this summer, although his contribution in helping them bring the first ever European trophy back to Turkey will surely guarantee him another year with the club. Hagi, who was sent off in the UEFA Cup final against Arsenal, said he hoped to become a coach at the end of his playing career, but not with a Romanian club. Hagi, who has been a fierce critic of Romania football in recent weeks, has been named captain of his country who play England in their final group game.

Saturday, 3 June 2000 - Romania survived an early scare in Bucharest to secure a 2-1 win over Greece in their final warm-up match. Goals from Liviu Ciobotariu and Florentin Petre gave the home team, who rested captain Gheorghe Hagi, an unconvincing victory in front of 13,000 fans.

Friday, 9 June 2000 - Gheorghe Hagi is back in full training ahead of his country's kick-off against Germany. There were fears that he would be unable to play due to a groin injury, but team doctor Pompiliu Popescu said: "Hagi will play on Monday." According to Romanian newspaper Liberatea, Hagi participated in a training session of "maximum intensity" at the team's Belgian base of Grimbergen. Hagi had trained separately from the rest of the squad for the past week.

Monday, 12 June 2000 - Germany draw 1-1 with Romania in their opening tournament match.

Saturday, 17 June 2000 - Substitute Costinha scores the only goal in the last minute of injury-time to send Portugal into the quarter-finals of Euro 2000. He headed home Luis Figo's free kick, leading Emerich Jenei to question the time-keeping of referee Gilles Veissiere. The fourth official indicated four minutes of added time after Romania and Portugal had ground out a 90-minute goalless match in Arnhem, but the game was into its 96th minute when Portugal scored. Gheorghe Hagi was cautioned in the first half, his second in the tournament, meaning he is suspended for the match against England.

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CG