Sport in Romania is an important part of the country's culture. Romania has risen to prominence in a number of sporting areas in recent decades. Association football is the most popular sport in Romania, a nation of 20 million. The most successful club is Steaua Bucharest, who were the first Eastern European side to win the European Cup and the European Supercup in 1986. Romania is one of only four national teams from Europe that took part in the first World Cup in 1930. The Romania national football team has taken part in seven FIFA World Cups and had its most successful run during the 1990s, when they reached the quarterfinals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, losing to Sweden in the penalty shootout. Romania was ranked third by FIFA in 1997.
Cristian Chivu
Gheorghe Hagi photographed in 2010
Mircea Lucescu photographed in 2017
Cristina Neagu is the only female handball player in history to win four IHF World Player of the Year awards
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team represents Romania in men's international rugby union competitions. Nicknamed Stejarii, the team is long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations. They have participated in all but one Rugby World Cup and currently compete in the first division of the European Nations Cup, which they won in 2017. Rugby union in Romania is administered by the Romanian Rugby Federation.
Romania at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France
Viorel Morariu (right) captained Romania in the 1950s and early 1960s
Alex Penciu, one of Romania's greatest players in the 1960s.
The Oaks starting lineup that beat France 15–0 in November 1980.