Sabau looking to make long-awaited World Cup appearance

BUCHAREST, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Veteran midfielder Ioan Ovidiu Sabau wants to end his career by playing in next year's World Cup but knows victory against Slovenia in the playoffs might not guarantee him a place in the 2002 finals. Sabau, expected to start Saturday's match against Slovenia on the right, has helped Romania qualify for every major tournament since 1994 -- only to miss them all with injuries just days before they began.

"I want to end my career with qualification for Japan and South Korea," Sabau told Reuters ahead of the two-legged match which will determine the qualifier. "But this time I want to play in the World Cup. I want it to be my finals." The 33-year-old first made his mark as an international in 1989, scoring against Denmark in a 3-1 win that helped Romania qualify for the 1990 World Cup. The tournament is the only major championship he has played in despite making 53 international appearances. After moving from Dinamo Bucharest to Dutch club Feyenoord, he was instrumental in securing a 2-1 away victory over Wales which booked Romania a place in the 1994 finals held in the United States.

But an injury prevented him from playing, costing Romania dearly. "If I had had Sabau on the pitch, Romania would have made it to the semi-finals at least," said coach Anghel Iordanescu after his side lost to Sweden in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out. Injuries also ruled him out of Euro 96, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. "I've missed out on almost everything in the last 10 years," a disappointed Sabau said. "But to make it to Japan and South Korea would be true satisfaction at last as a player."