Nearly 26 years on from their last appearance at the same stage of the FIFA World Cup™, Romania make their return to the last 16 of a major international competition, with the Netherlands awaiting them on Tuesday 2 July in the first of the knockout rounds at UEFA EURO 2024.
It is a tie that revives memories of the great Gheorghe Hagi and his peers, who starred at three consecutive World Cups: Italy 1990, USA 1994 and France 1998. FIFA travels back three decades to relive the memorable adventures of a pioneering generation of Romanian heroes.
Italia 1990 – A new wind blows in from the Carpathians
Present at the first three World Cups, Romania found themselves in the wilderness for most of the next 52 years, with only one subsequent appearance to their name – at Mexico 1970 – before they qualified for Italy 1990.
Expectations were neither high nor low when the Tricolorii stepped out to take on the Soviet Union in Bari on 9 June 1990, yet the return of the national team to the biggest footballing stage of them all was an ode to hope. Marius Lacatus added to the growing sense of optimism by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win.
While a Cameroon side inspired by Roger Milla promptly brought the Romanians back down to earth in a 2-1 defeat, the men in red and yellow bounced back by holding Diego Maradona’s Argentina, the defending world champions, to a 1-1 draw. Gavril Balint’s equaliser ensured a place in the knockout phase.
An already memorable campaign came to an end against the Republic of Ireland in the Round of 16. Beaten 5-4 on penalties after normal time and extra time had failed to produce a goal, the Romanians left Italy with heads held high after putting their country back on the world football map.
USA 1994 – Mixing it up with the big boys
With Anghel Iordanescu as coach, Romania headed to USA 1994 with a blend of Italy 1990 veterans such as Hagi, Ioan Lupescu, Gheorghe Popescu and Florin Raducioiu and emerging talents of the calibre of Ilie Dumitrescu and Dorinel Munteanu.
Facing them in their opening match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena were a well-fancied Colombia side, though seasoned Romania watchers were not surprised to see Iordanescu’s side emerge 3-1 winners. A heavy 4-1 defeat to Switzerland in their next match caused some consternation, however, a result the coach put down to “jet lag”.
In their final group outing, the Romanians got back on track with a 1-0 win over tournament hosts USA, Dan Petrescu scoring the only goal as they renewed acquaintances with Argentina in the last 16. Denied the services of Maradona on this occasion, La Albiceleste fell to a 3-2 defeat, as the Tricolorii did what no side had managed since Chile 1962: knocked the Argentinians out before the quarter-finals.
“This is the biggest achievement in the history of Romanian football,” said an emotional Iordanescu after the final whistle. “I don’t think our people have had as much to celebrate since the revolution [of 1989].”
Once again, however, fortune deserted Romania in a shootout, as they went out 5-4 on penalties to a fine Sweden side in the quarter-finals following a pulsating 2-2 draw. By reaching the last eight, though, Romania’s class of 1994 had become national legends.
France 1998 – Hagi’s last symphony
Following a near-perfect qualifying campaign (nine wins and a draw in ten games), a Romania side featuring a 33-year-old Hagi arrived at France 1998 as tournament regulars and genuine dark horses, a tag they justified with an impressive showing in Group G. Opening up with another win over Colombia – ۱-۰ on this occasion – the Romanians then saw off England 2-1 in Toulouse, with Petrescu’s injury-time winner propelling them to the top of the group.
A 1-1 draw with Tunisia ensured they went through as group winners, with surprise packages Croatia waiting for them in the Round of 16. Alas, it was to be the final appearance of the Maradona of the Carpathians on the world stage, and it came to an end with another penalty, this one converted by Davor Suker on the stroke of half-time for the game’s only goal.
Since reaching the last 16 three times in succession, Romania have failed to return to the competition. Now bolstered by a EURO campaign that has already succeeded expectations, the high-flying Tricolorii will hope to maintain momentum when the European qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™ kick off in March 2025. With 16 berths up for grabs, they will aim to make one of them theirs and renew acquaintances with a tournament they graced with distinction throughout a glorious decade.
