Fresh faces for Romania

After Romania tenth place finish at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia, coach Gheorghe Tadici felt that it was necessary to make some changes in the team.

Tadici decided to call-up 29 players for the Carpathian Trophy, which will take place in Craiova between 22 and 24 March.

These players will be split into two teams, Romania A and Romania B, and will be joined by Spain and Germany in the tournament.

The biggest surprise is that not one player from the Romanian champions and Women’s EHF Champions League participants, Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea, was chosen for the three friendly games which will take place in Craiova.

However, the other 10 teams from the Romanian national league have at least one player in the national team.

“Oltchim has a tough schedule ahead and played a lot of difficult matches in the Champions League in the past month.

“The players are tired and some of them have small injuries. I don’t want to risk anything,” explained Tadici.

As a result, Romania’s coach tried to spice things up by calling inexperienced players, in order to test them before the World Championship play-off matches against Slovakia, which will be played on 1 and 8 June.

However, Tadici has tried to keep some experienced players in the mix. The likes of Talida Tolnai, Mihaela Smedescu, Nicoleta Dincă or Melinda Geiger are already familiar with the pressure and the schedule of a final tournament.

Players like Daniela Rațiu, Roxana Varga, Laura Chiper, and Ana Maria Apipiei are only starting their professional careers and need a good tournament in order to be called up in the following matches, according to Tadici.

“We don’t treat this competition only as a friendly. The players who will do good work will surely be on our radar for the next competitions,” added Tadici for Romanian newspaper ProSport.

The Romanian side won against Spain during the EHF EURO 2012’s Main Round, 31:26, but fell to Germany 23:25.

However, Tadici insists that the results for his side’s Carpathian Trophy matches do not matter, as he is focused only on his players’ game plan.

The Romanian team for the Carpathian Trophy:

Goalkeepers: Talida Tolnai (Uskudar), Mirela Nichita (HC Dunărea Brăila), Mihaela Smedescu (HCM Baia Mare), Denisa Dedu (Corona Braşov)

Wingers: Nicoleta Dincă (”U” Jolidon Cluj), Ana Maria Apipiei (SCM Craiova), Laura Chiper (Corona Braşov), Ana Maria Tănăsie (HC Zalău), Aneta Pârvuţ (HCM Baia Mare), Andreea Cruceanu (CSM Bucureşti), Carmen Gheorghe (HC Danubius Galați)

Line players: Timea Tatar (HCM Baia Mare), Daniela Raţiu (Braşov), Crina Pintea (HC Zalău), Raluca Agrigoroaie (HCM Roman)

Back court: Luciana Marin (HCM Roman), Adriana Ţăcălie (Corona Braşov), Elena Băbeanu (SCM Craiova), Janina Luca (CSM Ploieşti), Alina Horjea (HC Dunărea Brăila), Roxana Varga (HC Zalău), Melinda Geiger (HCM Baia Mare), Laura Oltean (HCM Baia Mare), Diana Druţu (Corona Braşov), Roxana Joldeş (HCM Roman), Eliza Buceschi (HCM Baia Mare), Gabriela Perianu (HC Dunărea Brăila), Oana Gogoriţă (SCM Craiova), Gabriela Mihalschi (CSM Bucureşti).

Carpathian Trophy schedule:

22 March 2013
Romania A vs Romania B
Germany vs Spain

23 March 2013
Romania A vs Germany
Romania B vs Spain

24 March 2013
Romania B vs Germany
Romania A vs Spain