[goldenHuddlestone]

AS Roma defender Cristian Chivu heads a 13-strong overseas contingent that will form the core of Romanias squad for next months UEFA Euro 2008 Group G qualifier against Belarus. Coach Victor Piturca included Ajax Amsterdam defender George Ogararu, dropped for qualifiers against Bulgaria and Albania early this month, among the 13 he named on Thursday.

Piturca will complete his squad next week with players from the domestic championship. The match will be played on 7 October at the renewed Steaua Bucharest stadium after UEFA and the Belarussian FA agreed to it being moved from the Black Sea port of Constanta. The Netherlands lead the group with six points from two matches, Bulgaria are second and Romania third with four points each. Albania and Belarus have one point each and Slovenia and Luxembourg none.

Players named so far:
Goalkeeper: Bogdan Lobont (Fiorentina)
Defenders: George Ogararu (Ajax Amsterdam), Gabriel Tamas (Celta Vigo), Cristian Chivu (AS Roma), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), Pompiliu Stoica (FC Moscow)
Midfielders: Paul Codrea (Siena), Florentin Petre (CSKA Sofia), Laurentiu Rosu (Recreativo Huelva), Razvan Cocis (Sheriff Tiraspol)
Forwards: Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), Ciprian Marica (Shakhtar Donetsk), Daniel Niculae (AJ Auxerre).