Football: World Cup countdown - 172 days... and counting, until the start of the 1998 World Cup finals
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Romania may be missing some familiar names when they face England at the World Cup finals next summer. Two of their top men based in Germany's Bundesliga, Ionut Lupescu and Florin Raducioiu, said this week that they would not play for their country in France.
"The relationship with the Romanian football federation is very difficult, and I also have enough to do trying to avoid relegation with my club," said Lupescu, who plays for Borussia Monchengladbach. Raducioiu, of VfB Stuttgart, said he also had no desire to go to France.
"The door is closed. I can deal with not going to France since I've already been to two World Cup finals," the former West Ham forward said.
The two players have quit the national team in a dispute with the coach, Anghel Iordanescu, who said recently that he would welcome them back. Ovidiu Sabau, of the Italian club Brescia, has also walked out, complaining that the coach's demands of victory at any price were incompatible with his religious convictions.
Another Romanian international striker, Adrian Ilie of Turkey's Galatasaray, is joining the Spanish side Valencia for pounds 4.3m - despite allegations that the player was still afflicted by hepatitis, which he had as a child.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments