ROMANIA
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Group A - Aalborg (DEN)
Denmark
3300
72:61
11
6
Romania
3201
92:79
13
4
Spain
3102
71:75
-4
2
Serbia
3003
71:91
-20
0Download Official Delegation List
Find the pdf with the official 16 player Delegation List here.
Download Official Squad List
Find the pdf with the official 28 player squad list here.
History of Team Romania
The national handball team of Romania return to the EHF EURO for its eighth appearance at this top international event. Romania has been part of every major international tournament bar three since 1994 and the level of performance has varied over the past 17 years.
On a European level, the best result of the team to date was ranking fourth at the Final Tournament held in Romania in 2000. The women´s national handball team remain one of the strongest in Europe. This was proven by the silver-medal performance at the World Championship in Russia in 2005.
Expected to go far at the 2010 EHF EURO, Romania will be bringing very strong player to the Preliminary Phase in Aalborg and judging by the contestants, Group A is going to be particularly interesting.
Getting to the EHF EURO 2010
As the second placed team in Qualification Group 1 behind Ukraine, Romania secured its entry to the final tournament, ending the chances of Switzerland and Portugal.
Radu Voina - Romanian National Coach
"We were using the period leading up to the 2010 EHF EURO to train our team intensely, taking advantage of international tournaments. We played in Denmark, Romania, and France; additionally, there were two friendly matches against Germany. With all this tournaments, we have gained valuable experience playing against these much respected and appreciated teams in European handball. In the hopes of a great tournament for Romania, it is our intention to be among the top five once again."
Born in 1950 in Sighisoara, Radu Voina graduated from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at the University of Bucharest. Having spent two decades as a professional player, Voina was part of three Olympic delegations (1972, 1976 and 1980) that brought one silver and two bronze medals back to Romania.
Prior to ending his professional playing career, Voina began coaching at Steaua MFA. Over the years he has coached the men´s national team, RC Strasbourg and ASL Robertsau HB among others. At the end of the 2009/10 EHF Women´s Champions League season, after taking the team to the finals, he stepped down as coach of CS Oltchim Raminicu Valcea.
For his services to sport in Romania, he was awarded the order "Meritul Sportiv" in 2009 and has a multi-purpose sports hall in Sighisoara named in his honour.
3 key players
Valentina Neli Ardean-Elisei
The left wing that was born in Focsani has had an incredible handball career that took her from several Romanian clubs to Serbia, from where she returned to the 2010 EHF Champions League Finalist Oltchim Rm. Valcea. The student of the Physical Education Faculty wants to finalize her Sport Management Master course. In her private life she is known for her love of romantic movies, comedies and cartoons.
Paula Ungureanu
The student of the Sport Management Master course is one of the monst important players. As goalkeeper the player from Brasov collected a lot of experience. With her 30 years she has already played for several European top clubs outside of Romania, including Hungary's Dunaferr, Austrian EHF Champions League record winners Hypo NÖ and the Croatian top club Podravka. Now she has returned to the best club in romania, Oltchim Rm Valcea, who are one of the favourites to win the current EHF Champions League season.
Cristina Neagu
The 1988 born Neagu is Romania's deadliest weapon in attack. After she had started with basketball, she turned to handball at the age of 12. After shooting her club Oltchim Rm Valcea to last year's EHF Champions Leagu final, the Bucharest born left back was elected the World´s best Rookie of the Year 2009 by the International Handball Federation. The student is not only known for her goalscoring but also for her playing intelligence and her speed.
Past Performance
| 2009 | World Championship in China | 8th place |
| 2008 | European Championship in FYR Macedonia | 5th place |
| 2008 | Olympic Games in Beijing | 7th place |
| 2007 | World Championship in France | 4th place |
| 2006 | European Championship in Sweden | did not qualify |
| 2005 | World Championship in Russia | SILVER |
| 2004 | European Championship in Hungary | 7th place |
| 2004 | Olympic Games in Athens | did not qualify |
| 2003 | World Championship in Croatia | 10th place |
| 2002 | European Championship in Denmark | 7th place |
| 2001 | World Championship in Italy | 17th place |
| 2000 | European Championship in Romania | 4th place |
| 2000 | Olympic Games in Sydney | 7th place |
| 1999 | World Championship in Norway/Denmark | 4th place |
| 1998 | European Championship in the Netherlands | 11th place |
| 1997 | World Championship in Germany | 12th place |
| 1996 | European Championship Denmark | 5th place |
| 1996 | Olympic Games in Atlanta | did not qualify |
| 1995 | World Championship in Austria/Hungary | 7th place |
| 1994 | European Championship in Germany | 10th place |
EHF EURO 2010 Expert Camilla Andersen on Romania
One of the strongest teams in the world, their players like Varzaru and Neagu are fantastic. I am sure they will make it to the semi-finals. However, once there, the poor tactical abilities of the Romanians could become their Achilles' heel, by being beaten by a more organised team.
Further information
Romanian Handball Federation Website: www.frh.ro
