Steaua coach Ilie Dumitrescu was unconcerned by Hodgson's team selection but believes the scoreline was harsh on his side.

BBC: Win vindicates team selection, says Roy Hodgson

But how can a team with the likes of Gheorghe Hagi, Adrian Ilie, Gheorghe Popescu, Dan Petrescu and Viorel Moldovan in its ranks be discounted?

BBC: Romania form guide

The President, along with former stars Nicolae Dobrin and Ilie Balaci, is jetting in from Bucharest to support the side and had planned to meet with the players before the big game.

BBC: Hagi's bald move

In 2011, it launched a global "Why I Love Romania" poster campaign, trumpeting the achievements of famous Romanians such as tennis player Ilie Nastase, gymnast Nadia Comanenci and scientist Nicolae Paulescu, who discovered insulin.

BBC: Composite of images from romania