Romania scraped a draw against Tunisia in the Stade de France last night - and in doing so deprived England of the winner's spot in Group G.

Coventry striker Viorel Moldovan came off the bench to rescue a point after a match which had threatened to end in a famous victory for the Tunisians. Skander Souayah's 10th-minute penalty had given the Tunisians - and England - hope but Moldovan's 71st-minute equaliser means that Romania avoid Argentina in the last 16, and instead face Croatia.

From the outset, Romania had taken steps to ensure Tunisia could not identify their dangermen - virtually the entire team ran out onto the field with hair bleached blond in the style of Scotland's Craig Burley.

The one member spared the peroxide treatment was goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea - and that was only because he has no hair to bleach.

But the ruse appeared to do nothing but disturb the Romanians, as it was their backline which became engulfed by confusion.

Mehdi Ben Slimane was the first to threaten for Tunisia, shrugging off three tackles and then having the pace to hare way from his chasers. It was one-on-one but Stelea beat away his shot for a corner that came to nothing.

But Tunisia pressed again and took a shock lead to the delight of their huge following inside the Stade de France.

Cristian Dulca, making his first appearance of the tournament, manhandled the eel-like Adel Sellimi and Australian referee Lennie Edwards did not have to look twice before pointing to the spot. Souayah fired the penalty low to the goalkeeper's left.

It was just deserts for Tunisia - they were playing for pride and it was their first goal of the tournament - but Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu must have been cursing his decision to risk fielding a weakened side.

The two strikers who started against England, Moldovan and rising young star Adrian Ilie, were left on the bench, as was defensive rock Gheorghe Popescu.

Perhaps rocked by the half-time scoreline from Lens, Iordanescu replaced Marius Lacatus with the 24-year-old Ilie, while Moldovan came on for Dumitrescu soon afterwards.

Ilie soon served notice of his intentions and, with 19 minutes remaining, he rescued Romania from embarrassment. Receiving the ball unmarked in the box, he eluded the on-rushing El Ouaer before crossing to Moldovan.

The Coventry striker, so clinical in his finishing against England, showed the same coolness to fire first time into an unguarded net.