Colombia closes the March FIFA date against Romania, a team that on paper seems accessible to coffee growers, but its present is just as good as those led by Néstor Lorenzo, so it will not be an easy rival as it seems to be.
It will not be the first time that Colombians and Romanians face each other, as this will be the fourth opportunity they will have to compete, although in history it is the second international friendly game, since the previous ones had been in World Cup events.
For the Colombians, facing Romania does not bring back good memories, since this team was their executioner in the two World Cups in France 1998 and the United States 1994.
In 1994, Francisco Maturana’s Colombia arrived favorites at the World Cup and the press put them above, but in that first game of group A, Romania struck the blow by defeating the team of ‘Pibe’ Valderrama, Freddy Rincón, Faustino Asprilla and Adolfo ‘Tren’ Valencia, who were the ones who commanded a fearsome team, but the Romanians ended up winning 3-1 and leading to the early elimination of the Colombians in that World Cup.
Four years later Colombia had revenge, but again Romania took the victory, this time 1-0 in group G and again put the coffee team in trouble, who finished third with 3 points in France 98.
The last precedent between Colombia and Romania occurred in a friendly played in 2006 and on that occasion they did not go beyond zero in Chicago, United States.
Now, 18 years later, Colombians and Romanians will face each other again, but Lorenzo’s men have two missions: to remain undefeated and overcome the dominance of the Europeans.
Background Colombia vs Romania
05/27/2006: Colombia 0-0 Romania (friendly)
06/15/1998: Romania 1-0 Colombia (World Cup USA)
06/18/1994: Colombia 1-3 Romania (World Cup France)