Brazil and Romania first met in Group 3 at the 1970 World Cup, when a Pele brace, the first from a thumping free-kick, and a close-range Jairzinho effort earned the South Americans a 3-2 win. In the teams’ only other encounter, the Selecao emerged 2-0 victors courtesy of strikes by Edu and Leivinha, the uncle of Liverpool midfielder Lucas.
Romania reached a personal best of third on the Fifa ranking in September 1997. With the likes of Gheorghe Popescu, Gheorghe Hagi, Viorel Moldovan and Adrian Ilie shining, they had won their last six matches.
Ronaldo will be making his 98th and final appearance for Brazil, and consequently becoming their joint-fifth all-time record appearance holder, level with Djalma Santos and behind Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Lucio and Taffarel. The 34-year-old has never played against Romania previously.
Brazilians Eric and Wesley finished second and third respectively on the 2010-11 Romanian top flight’s scoring chart behind Ianis Zicu.
Otelul Galati last month became Romanian champions for the first time in their 47-year-old history. They are coached by Dorinel Munteanu, Romania’s most-capped player. Fluminense ended a 26-year wait for Campeonato Brasileiro gold in December.
Gheorghe Hagi is widely regarded as Romania’s greatest-ever player. Pele called the former playmaker, whom he named in his 100 greatest living footballers in 2004, “a joy to watch.”
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Brazil (4-3-1-2)
Victor; Maicon, Lucio, David Luiz, Andre Santos; Sandro, Henrique, Elias; Robinho; Neymar, Fred.
Mano Menezes released Julio Cesar, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva and Ramires from his squad following the 0-0 draw with the Netherlands on Saturday, in order to afford them more rest ahead of the Copa America. The Brazil coach will introduce Ronaldo on the half-hour mark, to give the iconic striker a 15-minute run-out and his farewell appearance for his country, so Leandro Damiao and Nilmar are hopeful they will begin the second half.
Romania (4-4-2)
Tatarusanu; Rapa, Gardos, Papp, Oros; Muresan, Bourceanu, Torje, Sanmartean; Marica, Surdu
Razvan Lucescu unexpectedly quit the Romania reins on Saturday following a victory, a 3-0 one at that, over Bosnia and Herzegovina. His assistant Stefan Iovan, along with U-21 coach Emil Sand, will take charge for the game in Sao Paulo, though they will be unable to call upon Cristian Sapunaru, Gabriel Tamas, Razvan Rat and Adrian Mutu, who have been released from the squad. Romania are likely to field a very inexperienced team.
Prediction
Romania’s first-choice XI would face an uphill struggle away to Brazil. Without key players, the Europeans have a mountain to climb to take anything from the match. The South Americans will be desperate to win convincingly after losing two and drawing one of their last four outings, and they should keep a clean sheet, dominate possession and emerge with a big victory.
Brazil 5-0 Romania 
