ROMANIA routed Germany 5-1 in a friendly last night, giving the World Cup runners-up a major headache just over a month before the start of Euro 2004.

Germany suffered their heaviest defeat since losing 5-1 to England three years ago as Romania thrashed them by the same scoreline tonight.

Life without Roy Keane got off to a bad start for Ireland as Jason McAteer picked up what looked like a serious injury, and the defence gave a way a cheap goal to their Japanese hosts.