Romania set to prove a pointassociated press

France have key players injured and lacking in fitness ahead of Monday’s match against a Romanian team desperate to make its mark on the big stage.

France have key players injured and lacking in fitness ahead of Monday’s match against a Romanian team desperate to make its mark on the big stage.

Two-time champions France may be favourites for the match in Zurich, but the Romanians are confident of putting on a good show at Euro 2008. “We’d like to be the surprise of the tournament,” striker Adrian Mutu said. “The time has come for us to show our value.”

There is perhaps no better time to play France, who generally get stronger the longer a tournament goes on. Captain Patrick Vieira is out with an injury, while defenders Willy Sagnol, William Gallas and Lilian Thuram have been sweating hard to be ready.

Franck Ribery and Thierry Henry are also not 100 per cent, and playmaker Samir Nasri is struggling with cold. Henry, troubled by a sciatic nerve for the past two seasons, trained alone on Saturday with fitness trainer Robert Duverne, just as he had done on Friday.

Even Domenech, normally upbeat about his team, is cautious about his opponents. “The Romanians qualified ahead of the Netherlands, so I don’t see why they would be weaker all of a sudden,” he said.

With 17 goals for Fiorentina in this season, Mutu will be eager to exploit lapses in a French defence, which looked wobbly in a friendly against Colombia.

“We have to work out their weak points. They don’t have many and there will likely only be two or three opportunities to score,” Mutu said. “I know what is expected of me by the country and I hope not to disappoint.”