England realistic as reality looms

England have not beaten Romania since 1970. Harold Wilson was the British prime minister, Romania was a Soviet satellite. England have not beaten Romania since 1970. Geoff Hurst was the 70th-minute scorer in the arid heat of the Mexico World Cup. England have not beaten Romania since 1970. When Romania was spelt with a u.

Ever since he arrived in Belgium 12 days ago Kevin Keegan has repeatedly used the phrase: "Don't underestimate . . ." Don't underestimate Alan Shearer, he said. Don't underestimate England, he said. It should be explicit then that whatever they do tonight in Charleroi, England should not fail because they underestimate Romania.

It is not, after all, the Romanians who have passed the ball like dyslexic adolescents in this tournament. Romania play joined-up, mature football. It is not, after all, the Romanians who were outplayed by Portugal for 90 minutes. Romania were beaten by a 94th-minute Portuguese header when their goalkeeper went AWOL. And it is not, after all, the Romanians who lost the last time they met England (in Toulouse in the World Cup).

Yet there is a definite sense that, after their historic victory over Germany, the national England mood is one of superiority. If it is, then those suffering deja vu yesterday had their explanation. Two years ago, before that match in Toulouse, England made hard work of overcoming Tunisia in Marseilles. No one, however, appeared to notice the hard work, they just saw the goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes and thought `easy 2-0 win'.

It was not easy. Nonetheless, England went confidently into the next game - against Romania - without David Beckham and Michael Owen. England careered into a yellow roadblock. When, in the 89th minute, Gheorghe Hagi dinked the ball over the England defence, Chelsea's Dan Petrescu got the wrong side of Chelsea's Graeme Le Saux's soft shoulder and drove the ball through David Seaman. England had been beaten 2-1.

Sitting in the television studio as a pundit was Kevin Keegan. When substitute Owen equalised with 20 minutes left Keegan remarked: "I can see only one winner now, and that's England." For England's sake, it is to be hoped that Keegan's judgment has improved since France 98. Certainly Keegan does not possess the arrogance of Glenn Hoddle.

The signs are promising. On Sunday afternoon Keegan said of Romania: "They're a side you can't underestimate." Being a racing man, Keegan must realise that defeating Germany in their present state does not represent winning a Derby trial. As Martin Keown said bluntly: "Romania are better than Germany." Shearer, perhaps self-referentially, added: "I think Romania will be similar to Portugal. They won't lump it long."

The trio of opinions suggest that the England team are approaching tonight with a good deal more realism than some of the folks back home. But England have the advantage. For a start they do not have to rewrite history again. A draw will put England through, whereas the Romanians need the win and then some. Moreover, both sides will seek their target without the magnetic presence of the suspended Hagi. For England that could be as important as it is undoubtedly to Romania.

Keegan's selection dilemmas surround whether to recall the fitagain Steve McManaman, and whether Steven Gerrard retains his place in the formation which finished the Germany game. Only Tony Adams is out. Keegan, however, reflected on Gerrard's assured substitute's display in helping to shore up the midfield against Germany with 30 minutes to go as "a cameo of what the future looks like" and expressed regret that he was unable to involve him earlier in the build-up.

While he could play with just Alan Shearer up front, moving Scholes forward and dropping Owen, he insisted that the Liverpool striker had "a real lively chance of starting this one" even if he knows there is "still more improvement to come from Michael at this level".

The only other possible change could involve resting Paul Ince and giving youth its head in Gerrard.

But for his opposite number Emerich Jenei the question is, who fills in for a legend? For Romania to be without Hagi, their all-time great, their captain, a man of 122 caps, who made his debut 17 years ago, is akin to the flags their supporters brought to Euro 96, the ones with the whole in the middle where the old Ceaucescu regime had its hated symbol.

True, these days Hagi's reputation may intimidate as much as his skills but, as he showed for Galatasaray this season, he is still the boy when he wants to be, even at 35. Generously, Keegan has said that he wanted Hagi to play: "Because major tournaments need the great players," and yesterday morning as he dawdled on the left-wing during Romania's kick-about training session in Charleroi, it was obvious that Hagi had been deprived of his raison d'etre, the grand stage.

It was a sullen sight for the neutral, it was a depressing one for his colleagues. Once Jenei sat down to answer questions it was no surprise the first few were from perturbed Romanians wondering who will replace Hagi. Jenei gave the only answer he could: "Only Hagi could be a substitute for Hagi."

It was said as despairingly as it reads, though Jenei also said that Hagi will be consulted as to who steps into his famous size five shoes. Ioan Lupescu, a veteran of two World Cups and Euro '96, or 20-year-old Adrian Mutu, are the contenders.

But only if Hagi says so - the wee man may yet play his part from the bench. As he has stated his intention to retire after Euro 2000 we may have seen the last of him as a player, although Bucharest's Revolution Plaza has resounded to the chants of thousands pleading for Hagi to reconsider.

"I haven't decided yet," said Jenei. "It will be difficult, but we will have to find a solution." Jenei (63), who counts Steau Bucharest's 1986 European Cup triumph over Barcelona among his achievements, can be expected to come up with a potent formula. Dropping the slapdash goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea could be a first ingredient.

Not that Romania require anything magical to overcome England. That, at least, was the view from Viorel Moldovan. Jenei and the former Spurs defender Gica Popescu may have been respectful with their thoughts on England. Moldovan was just frank.

"I'm not worried," said the one-time Coventry City centre-forward now with Fenerbahce. "I watched the German match on television, the Germans had their chances. England don't have a special gift. They are dangerous from free-kicks and David Beckham crosses the ball well, but apart from that they play predictable football. They just play long balls to the strikers and the others come and support the striker." Moldovan's final salvo turned out to be equally dismissive: "They are typically English."

Moldovan would have continued in the same vein presumably, had he not been alerted to the Romanian team bus disappearing out of the ground. That prompted much laughter. It also prompted notions of missing the bus.

But one English point and it will be all aboard for the quarterfinals. As long as they don't underestimate those Romanian roadblocks.