The Romanian smashed his country into a fifth-minute lead but Mehmet Scholl equalised with a screamer before half-time.

Chances came and went at both ends but none were clearer than Moldovan's in the 68th minute, which he blazed high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

With it went Romania's chance of making a winning start in Group A.

Germany will be thankful for a point after an unconvincing display but they could easily have stolen the win themselves in a pulsating game.

Oliver Bierhoff's header clipped and the German skipper was slow to react to a low cross from Thomas Hassler in the first half.

The opening game in England's group looked likely to be a Dad's Army tea-time special with Hassler winning his 100th cap and Lothar Matthaus extending his world record to 148 internationals.

Romania, meanwhile, remain heavily dependent on the experienced triumvirate of Gheorghe Hagi, Dan Petrescu and Gheorghe Popescu.

It was first blood to Hagi and Co. as the Romanians started the game in incisive fashion.

Germany reeled in Liege's Sclessin Stadium as the Romanians struck early and could have helped themselves to a couple more before Germany started to function.

Emerich Jenei's team couldn't have imagined a better start as Adrian Ilie skipped down the left, taking advantage of a slip by Thomas Linke, and chopped a low cross into the danger zone.

Moldovan pounced to crash the ball into the roof of the net from close range and silence the huge German following who had made the short trip across the border into Belgium.

The former Coventry striker, who failed to command a place in his brief time at Highfield Road, looked in goal-hungry mood.

He followed his early strike by smashing a long-range drive narrowly over and planted his head on Ilie's right-wing cross but was again too high.

After the break he forced Oliver Kahn to save with his body and flashed another header over the bar.

But he had two bites at his best chances and still missed after a loose ball rolled his way following Kahn's save from Ilie.

Jens Nowotny, a lone defender in front of goal, blocked Moldovan's first effort but the rebound fell perfectly for the Romanian. He looked certain to score, in the centre of the goal, but blazed the chance high and wide.

Hagi's sublime range of passing had caused major problems for Germany in the opening stages.

He released Petrescu but Kahn came off his line to quash the threat on the edge of his area. The Chelsea player was convinced the keeper had handled outside his area but his appeals were in vain.

Kahn raced from his line again to head clear but the Germans finally settled into their rhythm and began to create chances at the other end.

Popescu denied Bierhoff with a well-timed tackle and then blocked a fierce drive from Scholl with his head.

Bogdan Stelea kept out a Bierhoff header with a reflex save but was helpless as Scholl's equaliser screamed past him in the 28th minute.

Romania were incensed as ref Kim Milton Nielsen waved away claims for a penalty before half-time.

Hagi clipped a neat pass in to Ilie and the tricky striker turned Linke before going to ground.

Nielsen booked Ilie for taking a dive and showed Hagi a yellow card for his remonstrations.

Bierhoff was also denied a penalty claim in the dying minutes.

It was the Milan star who came closest for Germany after the break. He attacked Scholl's right-wing cross with a downward header but it clipped the post on its way wide.

Most of the ageing legs had been substituted by the end but there was still a tired feel to affairs as Nielsen called time.