It is eight years since Romania last qualified for a major championship and, perhaps not entirely coincidentally, it is eight years since Victor Piturca was sacked as national manager in the sort of circumstances that seem perpetually to undermine Romanian football.

The story came to a head in December 1999, but it began as far back as February 1987. Steaua Bucharest, then European champions, signed midfielder Gheorghe Hagi from Sportul Studentesc on what was supposed to be a one-game loan for the European Super-Cup game against Dynamo Kiev. Hagi, who would go on to be recognised as Romania’s greatest player, scored the winner and stayed at the club as Anghel Iordanescu built a team around his individualistic talents.