BUCHAREST. May 4 (Reuter): Roman-ias “golden generation" of world class players are desperate to prove themselves as more tnan European Championship also-rans and show their 1994 World Cup quarter-final place was no fluke.

Many of the veterans from USA 94. now in their mid-thlr-ties. will have their last big chance to represent Romania at Euro 96. They are determined to go out as heroes.

Team manager Anghel lor danescu admits that some of his team are getting long in the tooth, but he says they have the quality to come back and surprise younger teams.

"Romania must rise anew from Its own ashes so that the golden generation do not miss their last chance of glory tn England." he said, referring to players like Gheorghe Hagi. Ilie Dumitrescu and Mirius La-^ut the team Is under a shadow because of lor-danescu s row with Romanian soccer authorities over his allegations of widespread match -rigging at home.

Although he has withdrawn his resignation, his absence from a friendly against Yugoslavia In April sapped morale, perhaps contributing to the 1 -0 loss

It was not normal for the Romanians to be playing without lordanescu present." said defender lonut Lupescu, who plays for German club Bayer Leverkusen.

It was only the fifth defeat in 30 matches for Romania played under lordaneaeu's leadership since he was named as national trainer in July 1993

Players from domestic clubs are also worried at the Impact

of lordanescu s anti-rigging campaign which confronts many of the most powerful figures in the big Romanian clubs lordanescu. himself a gen-

eral in the Romanian army, has accused the heads of the big state clubs of "becoming rich on the back of the footballers' efforts on the pitch."

The Romanian soccer federation has agreed to investigate lordanescu s claims that the domestic championship is being rigged, partly because President Ion Iliescu intervened to persuade lordanescu to stay on.

But the squabble has clouded preparations for Euro 96.

"It was not necessary for us to have such a row just two months before the European Championship finals in England.' Steaua Bucharest's defender Daniel Prodan said.

"It's disturbing for us as we prepare for this summer's finals." he added

lordanescu. wtose xoniract negotiations coincided with the dispute and has agreed to stay on until July 1998. says he is now single-minded about steering his team through the Championship.

"I tiave now only one priority — to prepare the opening game against France who last year beat us in the Qualifying match in Bucharest." he said.

"It's not only for our pride that we need to beat the French but also for our future at the finals." lordanescu added.

Romania face France. Bulgaria and Spain in Group B and play their matches li^ Newcastle and Leeds

"Romania have to play in the strongest group in England." lordanescu said, adding ne was unsure whether that was the best, or the worst thing for his side.

If we'll finish top of the group it means that we will probably be strong enough to reach the semifinals at least," he said.

lordanescu's resignation and the subsequent fall-out from that is not the only potential barrier to Romania doing well.

The players, whose game has traditionally been based on swift counter-attacks as they E roved when they beat Colom-ia and Argentina in the World Cup two years ago. are older and slower

Playmaker Gheorghe Hagi is no longer qOite the magician he was during those finals, and has had only an average season at Barcelona.

"It would be a huge handicap for Romania to play with a Hagi out-of-form.' said Gavrila Balint. Romania's deputy trainer, "because an all-power ful Hagi is half our team.

The nucleus of Romania has been lost with the retirement of sweeper Miodrag Be-lodedici. His replacement. Anton Dobos of Steaua Bucharest, has a tough act to follow.

Florin Raducioiu. who is now at Espanyol in Spain, scored three goals in the United States, but has been suffering with injuries, and last played Tor Romania almost a year ago.

And another World Cup regular. Ilie Dumitrescu, was also out of action for more than seven months, during which time he lost his British work permit before he was authorised to move across London from Tottenham to West Ham.

There is no doubt that Romania s players can all be match winners on their day. The tough part for them will be proving it in a major competition again.