Romania hands the reigns to Răzvan Lucescu

Following the letting go of Victor Piţurcă, the Federaţia Română de Fotbal (Romanian Football Federation) has decided to hand the reigns of the national team to Răzvan Lucescu. With a goal of reviving the "tricolori" he has experienced tremendous success as a manager of FC Braşov and Rapid Bucureşti after his playing days with FC Sportul Studenţesc and Rapid concluded. A skilled tactician, Răzvan has his eye on the pulse of development of the game and will provide Romania the long-term leadership it requires as it looks ahead to Euro 2012. His appointment has been lauded already by his peers as a master-stroke for Romania and bodes well for the future.

For Romania fans his appointment is a bit of a double-take as his father Mircea Lucescu, presently Shakhtar Donetsk manager, led Romania in the early 1980's including their 1984 World Cup appearance.

exactly what the Tricolorii needed

Hope abound as Victor Piţurcă's Tricolori squad overcame Georgia 2-1 at Dinamo Stadium in Bucureşti. The visitors took the lead at the ten minute with Otar Martsvaladze poaching upon a mix-up between Mirel Rădoi (Steaua Bucureşti) and Bogdan Lobonţ (Dinamo Bucureşti) and although Romania was very aggressive they could not find the leveler. At the break Victor Piţurcă made brilliant statement that all Romanian supporters must commend him for, he brought in twenty-one year-old 'keeper Costel Pantilimon (FC Timişoara) and twenty-two year-old Adrian Ropotan (Dinamo Bucureşti) in a investment for the future. Down by one, Romania found the equalizer two minutes past the hour mark as Răzvan Cociş (Lokomotiv Moscow) crossed for Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart) who headed the ball to the back of the net. Hungry for the victory in-front of faithful supporters, Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucureşti) scored from five meters out to give the Tricolorii the 2-1 advantage. For the balance of the match, Romania had full control and held off Georgia for the victory.

România: Lobonţ ('46 Costel Pantilimon) - Ogăraru ('25 Panin), Tamaş ('46 Tanase), Rădoi, Raţ - Lazăr, Tameş - Nicoliţă ('60 G.Bucur), Răzvan Cociş ('46 Adrian Ropotan), Fl. Costea - Marica.

Georgia: Lomaia - Gvinianidze, Kvahadze, Hizanişvili, Salukvadze - Razmadze, Marebaşvili, Kobiaşvili, Odikadze - Martsvaladze, Goţiridze.

Victor Piţurcă's squad against Georgia

With results far under-par and Romania dropping to nineteenth in FIFA world rankings Victor Piţurcă is definitely on the hot-seat for results. Ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Georgia he has named the following squad:

Goalkeeper:Bogdan Lobonţ (FC Dinamo Bucureşti) şi Costel Pantilimon (FC Timişoara)

Defender: George Ogăraru (FC Steaua Bucureşti), Cristian Panin (CFR 1907 Cluj), Gabriel Tamaş (FC Dinamo Bucureşti), Mirel Rădoi (FC Steaua Bucureşti), Dorin Goian (FC Steaua Bucureşti), Valerică Găman (FC U Craiova), Răzvan Raţ (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Midfielder: Adrian Ropotan (FC Dinamo Bucureşti), Costin Lazăr (FC Rapid Bucureşti), Răzvan Cociş (FC Lokomotiv Moscow), Iulian Tameş (FC Argeş), Cristian Tănase (FC Argeş)

Striker: Bănel Nicoliţă(FC Steaua Bucureşti), Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Florin Costea (FC U Craiova), Gheorghe Bucur (FC Timişoara)