Lincoln City defender Andrei Coubis has been backed to start for Romania by three legendary names in Romanian football ahead of Friday’s Nations League opener away to Sweden.
There are suggestions Romania could use five at the back for the fixture, potentially opening the door for our defender to feature in a three-man central defensive unit. While the team has yet to be confirmed, Coubis appears to have support among those discussing how Romania should approach the game.
During a recent edition of one of Romania’s main nightly football programmes, former Chelsea forward Adrian Mutu was asked to put together his preferred starting XI. Nicolae Dica helped with the selection, while Ilie Dumitrescu offered his own thoughts on the balance of the side.
The trio did not agree on everything, with Dumitrescu considering the proposed line-up too attacking and favouring different options in some positions. However, all three agreed that Coubis should start, providing a pleasing point of consensus for those of us watching his progress from Sincil Bank.
Mutu is probably the most recognisable name for English supporters, having played for Chelsea during the early years of Roman Abramovich’s ownership. The former forward also represented Inter Milan, Parma, Juventus and Fiorentina during a career spent largely at the highest level of Italian football.
Dica, a former attacking midfielder and forward, made 32 appearances for Romania and was part of their Euro 2008 squad. Best associated with Steaua Bucharest, he also played for Arges Pitesti, Catania and CFR Cluj, later moving into coaching and serving as an assistant with the national side.
Dumitrescu will be familiar to supporters who remember his spells with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, secured after a successful World Cup in 1994. The former Romanian international winger also played for Steaua Bucharest and Sevilla, bringing another experienced international perspective to the discussion.
You can watch the panel’s discussion here, with Coubis emerging as a shared choice despite their other differences. Whether that preference is reflected in Friday’s team remains to be seen, but it is encouraging to see an Imps player receiving backing from such established figures in his country’s football.
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