Romania are back at a major tournament after missing out on Euro 2020 and both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. In fact, Romania’s Euro 2024 campaign will be only their third appearance on football’s main stage since the retirement of iconic leader Gheorghe Hagi in 2000. Led by Hagi, Romania’s so-called “Golden Generation” of the1990s – which also included the likes of Gheorghe Popescu, Miodrag Belodedici, Florin Raducioiu, Dorinel Munteanu, Dan Petrescu, Ilie Dumitrescu and Viorel Moldovan – impressed with their skill, grit and hunger for success, beating the likes of England, Argentina and Colombia in memorable World Cup clashes.
Today’s team is far from that level of quality – although one of the main players is Hagi’s son, Ianis, who hit the goal that sealed Romania’s Euro 2024 qualification in a dramatic 2-1 win over Israel in neutral Hungary last November – but the group have proven solid and resilient even
