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Veteran, defender of the Romanian national team, Dorinel Munteanu, refused an invitation to the 2008 European Championship qualifying matches against Belarus this week, saying that he is overwhelmed by immense pressure and will now focus all his attention on his playing coach work.
Last month, the 38-year-old player stated that he would end his career in the national team when he turns 40, but changed his mind when his Cluj "Ecomax" club played two draws at home and suffered a loss to Arad "UTA" in the Romanian top division, dropping to fourth place.
"I apologize to my fans in the national team, but the pressure in my club is enormous and I will never be able to show my best game in the national team again," the veteran D.Munteanu said on Monday to "Reuters" - "I have decided to end my career in the national team."
In 15 years representing the Romanian national team, the defender played 131 matches, and also participated twice in the World (1994 and 1998) and European (1996 and 2000) championships.
"I am convinced that the coach Victor Piturca has enough young, good players who could replace me," said the 38-year-old player, who currently plays sporadically in his club.
Romania's head coach V.Piturca included in the team players who have never represented the national team before: Radu Stefan from Bucharest's "Dinamo" and Costin Lazar from Bucharest's "Rapid". For the first time in 10 years, 12 players who play in Romania were called up to the team, which is expected to bring fresh blood to the team in the 2008 European Championship qualifying cycles.
Romania competes in Group G and is in third place, trailing Bulgaria by four points and the Netherlands by six. On October 7th, Romania will host Belarus in Bucharest.
Romanian national team composition:
Goalkeepers: Danut Coman ("Rapid" Bucharest), Marius Popa ("Politehnica" Timisoara).
Defenders: Valentin Badoi ("Rapid"), Petre Marin ("Steaua" Bucharest), Cristian Chivu ("Roma"), Sorin Ghionea ("Steaua"), Gabriel Tamas ("Celta" Vigo), Dorin Goian ("Steaua"), Razvan Rat ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Cristian Pulhac ("Dinamo" Bucharest).
Midfielders: Florentin Petre ("CSKA" Sofia), Banel Nicolita ("Steaua"), Ovidiu Petre ("Steaua"), Radu Stefan ("Dinamo"), Razvan Cocis ("Sheriff" Tiraspol), Nicolae Dica ("Steaua"), Laurentiu Rosu ("Recreativo"), Costin Lazar ("Rapid").
Forwards: Adrian Mutu ("Fiorentina"), Mugurel Buga ("Rapid"), Ciprian Marica ("Shakhtar"), Claudiu Niculescu ("Dinamo").
