Every club outside of the top 10 in the Premier League should have been banging on the door to get Ashley Cole in hes done everything right Joe Cole tells FFT why hes backing his former Chelsea and England team-mate to be a success in management
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Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterRomania will bid to qualify for their first World Cup since the 1998 tournament when they take on Turkey in this week's play-off semi-final.Mircea Lucescu's side finished third in their World Cup qualification behind Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning they were placed into Path C of UEFA's second round of qualifying.Should Romania get past the Turks, they will then face either Slovakia or Kosovo for a place in this summer's tournament.Article continues below You may like Republic of Ireland World Cup 2026 squad: Heimir Hallgrmsson's latest selection ahead of the play-offs Wales World Cup 2026 squad: Craig Bellamy's latest selection ahead of the March international break Scotland World Cup 2026 squad: Steve Clarke's latest selection ahead of March internationals Romania's last appearance in the World Cup finals came at France '98, where Gheorghe Hagi inspired his bleached-blonde team-mates to the last-16, where they came unstuck against Croatia.That was Romania's sixth appearance at the finals, the first of which came in the very first edition of the tournament in 1930.Treat yourself to your favourite World Cup 2026 shirtadidas Men's FIFA...adidas Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain Home T-Shirt in Dark Blue Size: XS $35Viewat Finish Lineadidas Men's FIFA...adidas Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain Home T-Shirt in Dark Blue Size: Large $35Viewat Finish LineAdidas Men's...Adidas Men's White Argentina National Team Fifa x World Cup 2026 Home Replica Jersey - White $99.99Viewat Macy'sSpain 26 Home...Spain 26 Home Jersey $100Viewat Adidas USSpain 26 Home...Spain 26 Home Authentic Jersey $150Viewat Adidas USRomania's veteran head coach Mircea Lucescu, who will turn 81 this summer, has named a 26-man squad for the play-off which mainly draws from domestic-based players.There are players from leagues scattered across the globe, including China, Turkey, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and England. The most experienced member of the squad is midfielder Nicolae Stanciu.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.SquadRomania World Cup 2026 squad: The March selectionGK: Marian Aioani (Rapid Bucureti)GK: Ctlin Cbuz (Arge Piteti)GK: Laureniu Popescu (Universitatea Craiova)DF: Nicuor Bancu (Universitatea Craiova)DF: Andrei Burc (Yunnan Yukun)DF: Andrei Raiu (Rayo Vallecano)DF :Radu Drguin (Tottenham Hotspur)DF: Deian Sorescu (Gaziantep)DF: Adrian Rus (Universitatea Craiova)DF: Virgil Ghi (Hannover 96)DF: Kevin Ciubotaru (Hermannstadt)DF: Andrei Coubi (Universitatea Cluj)MF: Nicolae Stanciu (Dalian Yingbo)MF: Rzvan Marin (AEK Athens)MF: Ianis Hagi (Alanyaspor)MF: Dennis Man (PSV)MF: Valentin Mihil (aykur Rizespor)MF: Florin Tnase (FCSB)MF: Vladimir Screciu (Universitatea Craiova)MF: Alexandru Dobre (Rapid Bucureti)MF: Vlad Dragomir (Pafos)MF: tefan Baiaram (Universitatea Craiova)MF: Claudiu Petrila (Rapid Bucureti)FW: Daniel Brligea (FCSB)FW: David Miculescu (FCSB)FW: Marius Coman (UTA Arad)Fixtures and resultsMarch 26, 2026: Turkey v Romania, Besiktas Stadium, Istanbul, TurkeyNovember 18, 2025: Romania 7-1 San Marino, Ilie Oana Stadium, Ploiesti, RomaniaNovember 15 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 Romania, Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina What to read next If Ireland can get to the play-off final, Id give them a 90 per cent chance of qualifying Terry Phelan on Irelands World Cup play-off hopes Brazil World Cup 2026 squad: Carlo Ancelotti's latest squad ahead March internationals I was joking with Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson about Italy possibly playing Wales in the World Cup play-offs. I told them both that were going to win it, 100 per cent! Destiny Udogie on what he said to Spurs team-mates October 12, 2025: Romania 1-0 Austria, Arena Nationala, Bucharest, RomaniaOctober 9, 2025: Romania 2-1 Moldova, Arena Nationala, Bucharest, RomaniaSeptember 9, 2025: Cyprus 2-2 Romania, GSP Stadium, Nicosia, CyprusSeptember 5, 2025: Romania 0-3 Canada, Arena Nationala, Bucharest, RomaniaManagerWho is Romania's manager?Mircea Lucescu is one of the most experienced and decorated managers of all time, with a career in the dugout which began when he was still a player in 1979.The 80-year-old won 64 Romania caps in his playing career, during which he won seven Romania titles with Dinamo Bucuresti. He would then embark on a managerial career which has seen him manage in Romania, Italy, Turkey and Ukraine, while he is currently enjoying his second stint as Romania boss.The Bucharest-born boss has won 38 trophies during his career and in 2015 he became the fifth coach to take charge of 100 Champions League matches, alongside Sir Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.Romania's Star PlayerWho is Romania's star player?Attacking midfielder Nicolae Stanciu is the most experienced player in the current Romania squad and the man that his team-mates will look to for creative inspiration.The 32-year-old skippered his side at Euro 2024 and opened the scoring in their 3-0 win over Ukraine, which was Romania's first victory in the competition for 24 years. That goal also meant he was the first player to score at a European Championship while playing for a Saudi Arabian club, having made the move to Saudi Pro League side Damac Club the year before.That was then the latest stop in a nomadic career which has also seen Stanciu play in his homeland, plus Belgium, the Czech Republic, China and Italy.Best XITOPICSFIFA World CupWorld Cup 2026Joe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.
