Steaua
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90stalgia (part 2)
28 January 1990: a friendly match at Olympique Marseille. The pre-match picture shows something unfamiliar: a national team with a sponsor’s name across the front of their shirts. Stranger still, this is the national team of an Eastern Bloc country. Something is changing… Brief résumé: Romania have qualified for a World Cup for the first… Continue reading
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90stalgia (part 1)
These things elicit a certain reaction from me, which I cannot control: Chrissy Waddle’s mullet; Platty’s last-gasp volley against Belgium; the ball ballooning off Paul Parker’s back and over Shilton’s head into the net; and, especially, Gary Lineker gesturing to the bench to “have a word”. And if you spent a lifetime striving to compose… Continue reading
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Rapid rising
Stardate: Saturday 14th April 2018. Kick-off: 7.45pm. Venue: Arena Naţionala, Bucharest. Competition: Liga 4 (Bucharest). Ticket price: 25 RON (£5) for row 2 in sector 111 of Tribuna II (the east stand). “Rapid a înviat.” “Rapid has risen.” So said striker Daniel Pancu, in a timely Easter reference, after Saturday’s game at the Arena Naţionala. Continue reading
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Liga 4 takes over the National Stadium
It’s the biggest game of the season. The ancient academy takes on the army of youth. Yes, the Eternal Non-League Derby is back! And it’s bigger than ever! Continue reading
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Those were the days
The British football monthly When Saturday Comes runs a feature in the back, where they review a season from times gone by and track what has happened since then to selected teams and individuals. I thought it would be fun to do that for the Romanian league. Let’s see if I’m right. Cast your mind back… Continue reading
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Occurrences
RomaniaBalls news I have finally written up reports from two very different matches: read about the clash of Liga 4 (“Rapid” v “Steaua”) here… and my first ever handball game(s) here. Read on for a round-up of other Romball titbits… Continue reading
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Clash of the… clash of the…
“Coming up this week: the giants of Charlton play host to the titans of Ipswich… making them both seem normal size.” …as David Mitchell says so portentously in this marvellous clip. This Saturday – Rapid v Steaua – is a clash between giants and titans, two of the biggest clubs in the country facing off… Continue reading
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This Sporting life
Fotbal Club FCSB v Sporting Clube de Portugal Champions League play-off round, second leg. Wednesday 23rd August 2017. 9.45pm. Arena Nationala, Bucharest. Ticket price: 40 lei (£8). Weather: shorts and t-shirt. As soon as I climb, wheezing slightly, to my seat, within spitting distance of the top of the upper tier, it is clear that… Continue reading
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Go fourth!
Expunge from your mind anything you’ve read which claims that the top tier is worth bothering with (even my more than adequate post from the other day). The division to watch this season is going to be Liga 4 București. Today the capital’s municipal football association (AMFB) announced the teams that will make up, at least on paper,… Continue reading
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Emergency update!
Here is RomaniaBalls’ emergency ordinance, being pushed through at an unreasonable hour of Super Saturday morning. Gigi is the main story – as so often… Yesterday FCSB owner Gigi Becali announced that he has combed the League’s full regulations for the competition, with a lawyer, and found that if his team and Viitorul finish level on… Continue reading
About Me
I like books. I like words. I like maps. I like football (mostly Romanian).
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