Romania skipper Cristian Chivu has put the nation above himself by postponing surgery on his troubled shoulder. The versatile Inter Milan defender, who will be playing his second European Championship this summer, will go under the knife only after his side's campaign in Austria and Switzerland is over. Romania are the dark horses in a group that also consists of world champions Italy, France and the Netherlands. Many expect their stay to be short, but the side look settled and assured, and may well be able to progress beyond the group stage.

Chivu,27, is a natural central defender, but can also play at left back and in midfield. He has also been linked with a move away from the San Siro, but has reportedly quietened those rumours by saying that he will stay with the Italian champions.

Chivu is one of the few Romanian survivors from the side that knocked England out of Euro 2000- a game in which Chivu himself scored as a nineteen year old. The others, from the current provisional squad that Victor Piturca has named, are goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont, defender Cosmin Contra and midfielder Florentin Petre.

Romania's next friendly game is against Montenegro on May 31, and they face France in their Euro 2008 group opener on June 9.