Hampered by injuries, Romania prepare for EHF EURO 2014

Following a disappointing World Championship 2013 at which Romania dramatically lost to Poland in the Last 16 (29:31 despite a 17:13 lead at half-time), head coach Gheorghe Tadici is now starting another phase of the team’s rebuilding which he announced when he took over in the autumn of 2012.

However, Tadici’s original plans had come to a halt, as the traditional Carpathian Trophy scheduled for the weekend coming was cancelled, after Montenegro had withdrawn from the tournament.

This left Romania with a few vacant days in the team’s schedule ahead of the Women's EHF EURO 2014, but the federation acted quickly and came up with ‘Plan B’ which also found Tadici’s approval.

Romania will now play friendlies against Hungary and Russia, starting with a game against EHF EURO 2014 co-hosts Hungary today (8 October, 17:15 hrs) in Debrecen.

Overall there are four matches scheduled and Tadici has nominated 25 players which will be divided in an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ team.

The ‘A’ team will play against Hungary on and against Russia in the Romanian city of Oradea, on Saturday, 11 October, while the 'B' team will play two friendly matches against Russia on 10 and 12 October.

Romanian head coach Tadici’s plans were further thrown into disarray at the start of the week, when he found out that Romania cannot count on Cristina Neagu.

The Romanian top star suffered an injury during a match played for her club, Buducnost Podgorica, and was not able to follow the nomination.

Furthermore Claudia Constantinescu (HC Zalau), Gabriela Perianu (HC Dunarea Braila) and Luciana Marin (HCM Baia Mare) – the latter two were part of the Romanian squad for the World Championships 2013 – also miss the friendlies against Hungary and Russia because of injuries.

For Russia it is noteworthy that for the first time in many years no player from Handball Club Lada, winners of the Women’s EHF Cup in 2012 and 2014, has been nominated among the 16-player strong squad that will travel to Romania.

Romania will play in Group B at the EHF EURO 2014 against Norway, Denmark and Ukraine, while Russia face Hungary, Spain and Poland in Group A.