After a game led as a true battle, Romania achieved its goal: an equal match against one of the strongest teams in Europe - France. Romanian journalists describe the game made by team captain Chivu and center-leader Radoi as perfect, while Nicolita was counted "running as for three games" - a total of 12 kilometers. Mutu was less active, but comments say it was normal, as long as he was guarded by three players - Toulalan, Sagnol and Thuram, throughout several parts of the game.
With Holland (defeated by Romania in the preliminary games) winning comfortably in front of Italy (3:0), the chances of the Romanian team suddenly seem a lot brighter than the moment when the "death group" was announced.
