OLD friendships will be forgotten today when Romania and Bulgaria, two teams of fading stars seeking to revive old glories, attempt to end each other's Euro `96 hopes.

For years their leading lights, Gheorghe Hagi and Hristo Stoichkov respectively, have been close, sharing experiences on their professional adventures with Real Madrid and Barcelona and enjoying a similar, full blooded approach to life.

Many other players in both squads are friends. But that will all be set aside in what promises to be a passionate Group B encounter. Both teams know that for the losers it will probably be the end of the road.

Romania, quarter finalists at the 1994 World Cup finals, were beaten 1-0 by France at Newcastle on Monday in their opening fixture, while Bulgaria, semi finalists in the United States, drew 1-1 with Spain at Leeds on Sunday in a rugged clash which saw veteran defender Peter Hubchev sent off.

"We felt we were a better team than France that night," said Hagi. "Now we have to beat Bulgaria. So we will try to be more Bulgarian than they are we will be big headed and stubborn like them.

"They are a good team and we must respect their attack. But we can win this."

Like Stoichkov, who has endured an unimpressive season in Italy with Parma, Hagi suffered an inconsistent year with Barcelona.

Both know this tournament may be the last showcase event to help them sell their talents again to the highest bidder.

Both teams will play in fluid formations in which midfield is filled quickly and counter attacks are effected at speed, with Hagi and Stoichkov orchestrating the movements.

In Hubchev's absence, Bulgaria's coach, Dimitar Penev, is likely to select Tzanko Tsvetanov in a reshuffled rear guard.

Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu is expected to keep faith with goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea, despite the blunder which gifted France their goal on Monday.

Romania's influential midfielder, Ioan Sabau, made a surprise and morale boosting return to the squad when he trained with them yesterday.

Sabau, who plays for Brescia in Italy, had been expected to miss all the first round games, but is now in line for a possible recall for Romania's final fixture against Spain next week.

Romania's other three slightly injured player's winger Marius Lacatus, midfielder Gica Popescu and defender Tibor Selymes were all included in the session at Castle Durham.

Bulgaria's squad quit their training camp near Scarborough yesterday after complaining that there was too little to do at their hotel and they spent too much time travelling.

The team will spend two nights in Stockton and then move on to Newton Aycliffe to take over rooms, vacated by the Romanian squad, who move to Leeds, to prepare for their final group match against Spain.

Both towns are nearer to Newcastle, where the Bulgarians play their final two group matches.

Tournament spokesman Alistair Harrison said. "We tried to persuade the Bulgarians from the outset that Scarborough was, too far away."

Scarborough Borough Council chief executive John Trebble said. "The Bulgarians chose their hotel because it was isolated.

"They wanted to segregate the players from the temptations of the night life in Scarborough so they could concentrate on their football preparation."