Romania and France will face each other in the early stages of Euro 2008 football championship on Monday without their most popular football legends for the past 20 years. Romania will play without Gica Hagi and France, without Zinedine Zidane. Will the two sacred symbols ever be replaced?

Romania was present in five final tournaments between 1990 and 2000 and each time, the team was lead by Gica Hagi. Romania's great performances came during the 90s and his withdrawal was followed by constant failures.

On the other side, France won the world championship in 1998 due to Zidane's game and two years later, it secured its continental title. However, now France has other great players like the German Franck Ribery while Romania's hopes are in Adrian Mutu and others of his generation. Will they encompass the myth surrounding their predecessors?