WORLD CUP USA ‘94: QUARTERFINALS : Spotlight : EVERYBODY GETS IN ON THE ACT WHEN ROMANIA WINS

From Bucharest:

“Whatever the outcome of (today’s) quarterfinals against Sweden, it will be a long time before anyone in Romania forgets this year’s World Cup.

“The success of the Romanian team, which went to the U.S. as a rank outsider, has at last given this Balkan country something to celebrate after nearly five years of bruising market reforms and rising poverty and crime.

“The whole country seems to have been caught up by soccer fever. With each victory, more and more ecstatic Romanians have taken to the streets and danced till dawn in the biggest demonstrations since the overthrow of Stalinist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.

“Romania’s leaders have cashed in, giving lengthy television interviews on soccer tactics and firing off telegrams to the U.S. to congratulate the team on Romania’s greatest sporting success since the victory of gymnast Nadia Comaneci in the 1976 Olympic Games.

“ ‘Our dear ones, no one can describe the immense joy you have brought to the souls of the Romanians in that memorable night of July 3,’ messaged Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu, an ardent soccer fan, after last Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Argentina.

“Amid reports of Romanians of all ethic backgrounds embracing, President Ion Iliescu spoke glowingly of a ‘national consensus’ created by the victory.”