"Mutu was an angel and a devil," summed up Evenimentul Zilei on its front page.

Mutu put Romania ahead 10 minutes into the second half of their Group C clash when he pounced on Gianluca Zambrotta's poor back header but his penalty nine minutes from time was saved, keeping Italy in the tournament.

"I apologise for the missed penalty," Mutu told sport daily Gazeta Sporturilor but was quoted in the daily Pro Sport, adding: "I will take revenge against Netherlands (their final group match on Tuesday]."

Former Romania captain Hagi, arguably the country's best player of the past century, called for understanding and support for Mutu.

"Mutu must forget as soon as possible that he failed to convert his penalty," Hagi wrote in Pro Sport. "We must encourage him – the world's best players have all missed important penalties in their life. I'm sure that Mutu will play his best match so far against the Netherlands. Romania are playing better and better and now we have our chance to emerge alive from the group of death."

Romania showed their more attractive side against Italy, displaying their credentials as potential quarter-finalists at Euro 2008.

In their dull, defensive scoreless draw with World Cup runners-up France, the eastern Europeans proved they are well organised and are unlikely to concede many goals, but there were no signals that they could score many.

But against the Azzurri in Group C, coach Victor Piturca shuffled his pack from defence into a more attack-minded formation, showing an ambition to win, rather than purely avoiding a defeat.

But more significantly, Romania showed against Italy that they have the ability and depth in their squad to adapt easily and quickly – a key quality if you want to win a major tournament.



Romania hold their Euro 2008 destiny and that of Italy and France in their own hands. Victory on Tuesday over the Netherlands, who top the group with two wins, would see them through to the quarter-finals alongside the Dutch. A draw combined with a draw between France and Italy would also be enough for a berth in the last eight.

"When we looked at this group our main aim against Italy and France was not to be beaten. We beat Holland in qualification, so we believed we could do that again. We have achieved our goal so far, so hopefully we can complete it," defender Cosmin Contra said.



But completion of Romania's master plan still depends on a number of calculations, permutations and many scenarios. The main question will be: which Dutch side lines up in the final game?

Romania beat the Netherlands in Constanta and drew in Rotterdam en route to Austria and Switzerland but we have seen a very different Dutch side at the finals, scoring seven goals in total against much-fancied Italy and France.

But having already secured top spot in Group C, coach Marco van Basten may decide to rest a number of players, giving Romania a welcome advantage.



Piturca, whose defence can expect a bombardment by a charged Dutch attack, also has to plan without defender Dorin Goian and midfielder Mirel Radoi. Goian, suspended for the Dutch match, was a lynch-pin in the Romanian defence in both games so far, while Radoi, who suffered a major head injury against Italy, was a valuable holding player against the Italians.