The main sporting event this
weekend is the football match pitching Romania against Sweden in Stockholm.
This is our footballers’ first qualifying match for the European Championship
in 2020; Romania is part of group F together with the teams of Spain, Sweden,
Norway, the Faeroe Islands and Malta and only the group’s first two sides are
qualified for the final tournament.
Football fans aren’t expecting a
good show from their favourite ones on Saturday as Romania’s untrained lineup
has managed only lackluster performances in recent years. In a world ranking,
drawn up by the International Football Federation, Sweden comes 14th,
whereas Romania is on the 25th position. Out of the other sides in
group F only Spain fares better coming ninth in the ranking while Norway is 48th
– place; the Faeroe Islands is on the 97th position and Malta coming
182nd.
Romania’s under twenty-one football
selection conceded a one-nil defeat to Spain’s similar side in a friendly game
on Thursday. Headcoach Mirel Radoi could not rely on 9 players who had been
summoned at the national side for the match against Sweden. During the same
training campaign in Spain, Romania’s under 21 side will be taking on Denmark
in Marbella.
We recall that our young
footballers have for the first time qualified for such a tournament and are to
represent us this summer at Euro 2019 in Italy and San Marino. They are part of
group C together with England, France, and Croatia. The Under-21 European
championship is due to unfold between June 16th and 30th.
Romania is no longer represented in
the men’s single contest of the tennis tournament in Miami after Marius Copil
was eliminated by Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. Irina Begu also conceded
defeat to Romanian-born Canadian Bianca Andreescu, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.