Across Romania, when the national anthem is played on 10 June, there will be legions of eight-year-olds idolising the eleven men in yellow, lined up to kick off UEFA EURO 2016. Not so long ago, it was those on the turf who were perched in front of their televisions the last time the Tricolorii stepped out at a tournament in France.
With the likes of the Gheorghes of Hagi and Popescu, Adrian Ilie and Dan Petrescu among the side at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France, there was plenty to inspire a young Vlad Chiriches, who has gone from enraptured infant to captain of the national side in the 18 years since.
“I remember '98 very well,” the 6’0-tall centre-back told FIFA.com. “I only saw footage of 1994 a little later on, but for ‘98 I was live and in front of the TV, watching the Romanian side. We had a good team, and some good performances too!”
However, one episode from that tournament sticks in the mind even more than the impressive performances from individuals such as Viorel Moldovan. “I also remember how they lined up against Tunisia, all with their hair dyed blonde,” the Napoli defender recalled with a smile.
In a commentator’s nightmare, which has become a part of World Cup folklore, the entire team arrived at the Stade de France with bleached blonde hair, after pledging to do so should they beat Colombia and England. Coach Anghel Iordanescu instead opted to shave his head – though the baseball cap he wore implied he may have regretted his decision.
Curtain raisers
The legendary coach will be in the same dugout again – his third spell leading the national side – as Chiriches and Co kick off the competition against hosts France. “It will be special for us, to open the tournament,” the 26-year-old explained. “It’s a once in a lifetime moment.”
I think it’s going to be tough, but we’re going to fight for it.
Vlad Chiriches, Romania defender on his side's chances of progressing from UEFA EURO 2016 Group A.
The last time the sides met, five years ago as Romania missed out on EURO 2012, the 21-year-old made his first competitive start in his national colours. At that point he was still wide-eyed about even getting the call as, playing for the more unfashionable Pandurii Targu-Jiu, it came as something of a surprise to him.
“I came from a club which was not at the top end of the league, so it was an incredible thing," said Chiriches. "When I joined Steaua Bucharest it was the normal thing to be in the national team, but my debut was something unbelievable.”
That game ended goalless, with defensive strength and solidity very much something Iordanescu has forged in this side too, and Chiriches is adamant his coach’s experience will serve them well against Les Bleus this time out. The stats certainly imply the Romanians will be a tough obstacle to negotiate. No side conceded as few as in getting to the finals, just two in ten qualifiers, and only three others -  England, Austria and Italy - survived the qualifiers undefeated.
However, the defender is quite matter-of-fact in acknowledging that this is not a side akin to those that dazzled in his days as a young fan. “Before Romania had a better quality of player, where everyone was playing for top teams and were all doing very well,” he said. “Now, our greatest strength is the group; we are united and this is our greatest attribute. We don’t arrive with just one star player – someone like Hagi. We are a team now.”
Delayed arrival
That commitment to fighting as a unit, is a ploy that has done the Eastern Europeans well in recent years and, were it not for a play-off defeat to Greece, this easily could have been a conversation conducted two years earlier. That loss at the last stop on the road to Brazil 2014 is still a tough one for Chiriches to take. “That play-off was the hardest thing to go through because I think we weren’t that bad,” he said, reflecting on their 4-2 reverse. “We should have qualified, but in the end Greece were better than us.”
Coming so close has instilled a greater sense of belief among the squad though, which is tight-knit by the standards of many, with just 29 players taking to the field in all. “That game definitely has given us a stronger and more powerful outlook, and I believe it helped us do the job and make it to France.”
As well as the hosts, Romania have been drawn alongside Albania and Switzerland in Group A. Unbeaten against the former and with an equal historical record against the latter, the big defender expects it to be a tight race in behind Didier Deschamps’ side. “France are definitely the best team in this group,” he accepted, “but after that, us, Switzerland and Albania are almost at the same level. I think it’s going to be tough, but we’re going to fight for it.”
Having missed out twice on major tournaments, Chiriches admits it’s been tough to watch on as fan with the festivities going on elsewhere. Enjoying the experience is therefore a must. “Everyone wants to leave having picked up some good results, but I think the feeling among the team has to be a positive one to play high quality football. However, in the end the results are most important.”
A goalless draw with Spain earlier in the year has boosted belief that they can hold their own in France, with Chiriches expecting the limelight to bring out their very best. “There’s definitely a lot more to come from this side and I think a tournament is the opportunity to show it. Under pressure, everyone will push themselves.”