Sports weekend

The latest from men's basketball, men's handball and football

Florin Orban, 24.12.2021, 13:45

SCM Timisoara this past Thursday secured a 97-87 home
win against SCM ”U” Craiova. The fixture counted towards the first leg as part
of the quarterfinals of Romanian Cup in men’s basketball. We recall SCM Timisoara
had also faced SCM U Craiova five days ago, in a regular domestic championship fixture; the latter team won, 82-76. The second leg is scheduled in Craiova on December 29.
Also as part of the quarterfinals’ first leg, this coming Monday Dinamo
Bucharest plays a home game against U-BT Cluj-Napoca, while Athletic Neptun
Constanța faces Municipal Galati, also on home court. CSO Voluntari receives the visit of CSU Sibiu, also on Monday.

From Monday and all through to Wednesday, fixtures counting towards the
Carpati Trophy in men’s handball will be played in Cluj. The Carpati Trophy is
one of the longest-lasting domestic competitions in men’s handball. On Monday, Romania
takes on Turkey. On Tuesday, Turkey is pitted against Iran, while on Wednesday Romania takes on Iran. For the Romanian men’s national handball team, starting
January the 6th, 2022, qualifiers fixtures follow, counting towards
the World Seniors’ Championship. The matches will also be hosted by the city of
Cluj.

The end-of-the-year International Football Federation classification
in 2021 was made public on Thursday. The Romanian national team is 44th-placed,
the same as in November 2021. Early into 2021 Romania was ranked 37th,
yet in August it climbed 8 notches down, back then coming in 45th. For
two months running Romania climbed up, but in November 2021 it climbed down
again, from the 41st to the 44th position. For the fourth
consecutive year Belgium is at the top of the table. Brazil, France, England
and Argentina follow, in descending order.

Romanian Football Federation talks have revealed that
former international footballer Adrian Mutu is the main favourite to taking over
the position of head-coach for the national football team. Adrian Mutu would
therefore replace Mirel Radoi, whose contract with the Romanian Football Federation expired in November this year. Radoi did not renew the contract with
the federation. Last week League One team CFR Cluj’s head-coach Dan Petrescu was
still the main favourite for the position of national team head-coach.
Eventually, Dan Petrescu decided to stay with his team, CFR Cluj.

(Translation by Eugen Nasta)

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