The 2022 Qatar World Cup is just around the corner, so HITC Sport have taken a look back at Romania pulling off a shock in the United States to make it to the quarter-finals in 1994.
A squad featuring Gheorghe Hagi stunned the world 28 years ago as they reached the final eight. They also played in what is remembered as one of the all-time great World Cup ties to eliminate Diego Maradona’s Argentina teammates over a five-goal thriller in Pasadena.
Romania caught the world’s attention with their brand of counter-attacking football during the group stage. Under manager Anghel Iordanescu – whose son Edward now coaches the national side – the Tricolorii played telepathically to pip Switzerland, the US and Colombia.
The World Cup would ultimately end for Romania in the quarter-finals as Sweden emerged triumphant on penalties in Stanford. Brazil would take revenge for the Tricolorii by beating Blagult 1-0, and seal a date with Italy in a final that the Selecao would win 3-2 on penalties.
America in 1994 marked the furthest that Romania had ever, and still have ever, gone at a World Cup. The Tricolorii reached the round of 16 in 1990 at their return to the Fifa event, after failing to qualify for 20 years, while 1970 was Romania’s only appearance since 1938.
They would again reach the last 16 in 1998, but the France World Cup marks the last time that the Tricolorii played on the global stage. Romania will now strive to avoid a 34-year absence by qualifying for the World Cup in 2026 hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Qatar will hope the World Cup later this year contains historic stories like Romania making the quarter-finals at America 1994. So ahead of the first of the 22 Fifa events to be held in the Middle East, HITC Sport takes a look back at the Tricolorii’s journey across the pond…
Romania started 1994 USA World Cup by beating host nation to top Group A
Romania kicked off their 1994 World Cup on June 18 against Colombia at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Florin Raducioiu would give Iordanescu’s side the perfect start, too, by beating Oscar Cordoba to break the deadlock just 15 minutes into the opening Group A encounter.
Captain Hagi would add to the Tricolorii’s lead just after the half an hour mark, but Adolfo Valencia gave Los Cafeteros hope just before the break. Yet Colombia failed to build on his goal, and instead allowed Raducioiu to restore Romania’s two-goal gap in the 89th minute.
Hagi was again on the scoresheet in match two, but his effort would not stop Switzerland winning 4-1. Alain Sutter got A-Team in front 16 minutes into the tie, before goals through Stephane Chapuisat and a double by Adrian Knup eliminated Hagi’s 35th-minute equaliser.
Romania bent but did not break following the defeat as Petrescu put the ball in the net for the only goal against America. A 1-0 win back at the Rose Bowl against the host nation was enough for the Tricolorii to top Group A with six points to Switzerland and the US on four.
Romania and Argentina play out Round of 16 tie for the ages without Maradona
Top spot in Group A meant Romania met Argentina in the last 16 for a tie for the ages. But Maradona was not to be seen on the Rose Bowl pitch after Fifa barred the iconic maestro after testing positive for a banned stimulant. Instead, he worked the tie as a commentator.
Nonetheless, the Tricolorii with the ‘Maradona of the Carpathians’ Hagi and La Albiceleste with Gabriel Batistuta ensured a spectacle. Even if Romania coach Iordanescu was without Raducioiu through suspension, with the deeper-lying Ilie Dumitrescu starting in his place.
The false-nine role suited Dumitrescu perfectly, though, as he broke the deadlock after just 11 minutes. The forward – who went on to play with West Ham United in 1996 – deceived Luis Islas in goal as he curled a free-kick into the far top corner from the corner of the area.
Romania gifted Argentina their route back into the tie moments later when Batistuta fired a penalty five minutes on. Yet two minutes would pass and the Tricolorii were back in front as Dumitrescu found Hagi before continuing his run into the six-yard box to slot the ball home.
Argentina could have been down for the count at the break were it not for a goal-line block by Fernando Caceres denying Dumitrescu a hat-trick. His chance followed yet another elite counter-attacking piece of play by the underdogs, unafraid of the 1978 and 1986 winners.
Dumitrescu would return the favour and found Hagi early into the second half to give the Tricolorii some breathing space. But Argentina kept digging and got back to within a goal in the 75th minute when Abel Balbo met the rebound of a thunderous Diego Simeone strike.
One goal separating the sides ensured a frantic finish, but Romania held on to the disgust of an onlooking Maradona. “Romania didn’t beat us on the pitch,” he said on Argentinean TV commentary, via The Guardian. “We were beaten off the pitch and that’s what hurts.”
Blistering hot conditions in Pasadena were not able to stop the incredible pace at which the last 16 tie was played. Exceptional skill from both sides and an upset caused by a Tricolorii squad overwhelming La Albiceleste and breaking fast ensured the fixture’s place in history.
Ravelli of Sweden would end Romania’s 1994 World Cup in the quarter-finals
Romania’s reward for beating Argentina was a quarter-final with Sweden at the Stanford Stadium. But unlike the Tricolorii’s Round of 16 tie, the final eight affair would not spark into life until the final quarter of an hour as Per Tomas Brolin finally gave Blagult the advantage.
Brolin broke the deadlock following a smart free-kick routine, but the midfielder could not prevent Raducioiu’s 88th-minute equaliser sending the tie to extra-time. Stefan Schwarz’s second yellow card then gave the Tricolorii the momentum to snatch the lead in the 101st.
But as weary legs grew even more tired, full-back Roland Nilsson delivered an inch-perfect cross to Kennet Andersson. Up leapt the forward over the Romania backline to smash past Florin Prunea, who almost gifted Sweden the win after he spilt a late hit to Henrik Larsson.
Larsson’s poor first touch ensured the tie went to penalties, where Thomas Ravelli was the hero for Blagult. Hakan Mild might have missed the first strike from 12-yards, but Ravelli – who failed to distract Dumitrescu – stuck out a strong left arm to deny Miodrag Belodedici.
And with the save, Ravelli ended Romania’s 1994 World Cup and secured Sweden’s spot in the semi-final against Brazil. But he could not be the hero again as Romario scored to send the Selecao into the final and Blagult to a third-place play-off where they beat Bulgaria 4-0.
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