Focus will be on middlemen with Latin flavour

A last-minute free kick from Dorinel Monteanu gave Romania a 1-0 victory in Oporto after the visiting defence resisted a Portuguese siege. A similar defensive curtain in Bucharest ensured Romania got the draw the team needed to qualify.

“Romania is not just any team … If you underestimate them, you lose,” Cacador told a news conference. “This is not fear, or lack of confidence, it’s respect for a tough opponent”.

In the run up Saturday’s match in Vitesse Arnhem’s high-tech Gelredome stadium, Portugal and Romania seemed to have formed mutual-admiration society.

“It’s a great team, with great players. I think we’re going to have a very good game.” said midfielder Paulo Bento.

“Figo is a very great player, one of the best and he’s in phenomenal form,” said Romanian defender Gheorghe Popescu. “But Portugal is not just Figo, they have some of the World’s best footballers.”

The match is sure to be presented as a tussle between Figo and Hagi, despite their contrasting opening games.

While Figo’s match-winning endeavors against England won universal acclaim, Hagi was criticized for petulance, rather than demonstrating the free-flowing skills that earned him the Maradona nickname.

Fortunately for Romania, Hagi can still turn it on when need be, as he proved in Galatasaray’s UEFA Cup final victory last month. At 35, the veteran campaigner wants to show he can still match whatever Figo can offer.

Even if Hagi can’t conjure up its best form, Jenei can still count on a wealth of talent and experience from Chelsea fullback Dan Petrescu to the forward pairing of Adrian Ilie and Viorel Moldovan.

Coehlo is expected to keep the same staring line-up that beat England, with Jose Luis Vidigal and Paulo Bento helping out in defence while Figo, Rui Costa and Joao Pinto float behind Nuno Gomes upfront.

However, the Portuguese coach as more options this time around with the recovery from injury of playmaker Paulo Sousa and striker Ricardo Sa Pinto, and the end of a one-match suspension for Pauleta, goalgetter for Spanish champions Deportivo la Coruna.

Paulo Bento, along with defenders Abel Xavier and Beto, will undergo late fitness tests, but are expected to be fit. Romania’s main worry is goalie Bogdan Stelea’s suspect ankle, but he too is expected to start.