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Romania v France

Underdogs plot French fall

AFP, Zurich
Romania's Scottish Premier League-based striker Marius Niculae believes his countrymen should use a little Highland knowhow if they are to belie their underdog tag and silence France's bark in Monday's Group C opener in Zurich.
Raymond Domenech's France are vying for favouritism to lift the championships and will be out to reinforce that status against a Romanian side that pipped fellow Group C rivals the Dutch in qualifying.
And Niculae, who plays for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, reckons Romania are in with a squeak of upsetting the two time winners and 2006 World Cup finalists if they follow the example set by Scotland, who beat France twice in qualifying.
"Maybe we can learn something from the way the Scots played against France," the 27-ycar-old attacker suggested.
"They were very compact and took their chances when they came along. Our first game is the most important game because we want a good start and we hope to get some points on the board against France," he told euro2008.com.
Teaming up with Niculae in trying to breach the seasoned French defence which has not leaked a goal in their last four
matches is Adrian Mutu.
Mutu, in his first major finals since, said: "It was a hard group in 2000 but we didn't have to play the World Cup winners and the team they played in the final. None of the teams wish to play in this group. It is the hardest group ever."
Yet Mutu doesn't underestimate the monumental task facing them.
"We have a tough draw on paper and only those who like an adrenalin rush would bet on us, but we will do our best and a positive result against France would give us real impetus for the games against Italy and Holland. As our captain Cristian Chivu said, 'It's time forus to show what we can do'."
France, facing their first finals without the master, Zinedine Zidane, look set to be bereft of their captain, Patrick Vieira, unless the seasoned midfielder passes an eleventh-hour fitness testonhisinjured thigh.
Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is being readied to fill Vieira's place, with Claude Makelele commenting: "(Jeremy) Toulalan and Patrick have different qualities.
"There is a great complicity between Toulalan and myself. When I move up he sits in front of the defence. There's no problem. You adapt to your opponents. We
are intelligent enough to read their game and make adjustments - it's up to the players to decide."
For most it is Franck Ribery’ who has taken over the baton from Zidane.
fhe Bayern Munich star is in red hot form after lifting the league title and Cup in his first season in Germany and striking a penalty in last Tuesday’s final prep against Colombia to mark in the best possible way Thierry' Henry's 100th cap.
Back at the 2006 World Cup there was a noticeable lack of public support for Domenech's Les Bleus during the first round group phase.
T\vo years on and Gallic confidence is seemingly back with a survey for sports daily L’Equipe on Saturday suggesting one in three fans back home believe France can win this Euro.
But Domenech is taking nothing for granted ahead, and assessing the complexities of Group C he said: "All four teams have the same chance.
"Romania finished above the Netherlands in qualifying so I see no reason why we should now say they are weaker. They're a solid team and are very capable of hurting opponents on the counterattack.
"We're not arriving with our hands in our pockets thinking we're going to win easily."