Romania relying on luck, determination for France game

Injury-hit Romania are counting on luck and determination to beat France in their 2010 World Cup qualifier at the weekend, coach Victor Piturca said yesterday.

Piturca told reporters that almost half the team's key players were injured and that determination and chance were Romania's main weapons in the Group Seven game on Saturday.

However, the return of skipper Cristian Chivu and striker Adrian Mutu for the game in the Black Sea port of Constanta would give Romania a boost, even though both players were struggling to get back to full fitness.

Romania were stunned 3-0 at home by Lithuania and struggled to beat Faroe Islands 1-0 away in their first two games. They are fifth in the table on three points behind Serbia, Austria and France on goal difference. Lithuania top the group on six points.

Piturca has been forced to pick an inexperienced squad and has called up uncapped central defender Valerica Gaman (19).

"Gaman, (goalkeeper Costel) Pantilimon and (striker Bogdan) Stancu are all young, genuine talents and they could be the future of a new Romania national team," Piturca said.

Chivu said beating France was crucial.

"We have to beat France if we want to keep alive our hopes of qualifying," he said.