Romania finished at the top of Group E in Euro 2024 with a thrilling 1-1 draw against Slovakia. Both teams advanced to the last 16, with Romania leading the group and Slovakia qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.
In the match held in Frankfurt, Slovakia took the lead in the 24th minute. Ondrej Duda scored with a powerful header from Juraj Kucka’s precise cross. Despite Slovakia’s early advantage, Romania responded before halftime. Razvan Marin converted a penalty with a fierce strike into the top corner after David Hancko fouled Ianis Hagi in the box.
Romania’s top finish in the group was secured, with Belgium coming second after their draw with Ukraine. Ukraine was eliminated as a result. Slovakia moved forward to the last 16 as one of the top third-placed teams and might face England in the next round. The exact matchups will be confirmed after the final Group F games later tonight.
This Euro 2024 tournament marked a unique situation as all four teams in Group E ended with the same number of points. It was the first time in the tournament’s history that such a scenario occurred.
For Romania, reaching the knockout stages is a significant achievement. It has been over two decades since they last advanced this far in a European Championship. The last time was in the summer of 2000, when Ianis Hagi was just a toddler. Now, Hagi, who played a crucial role in the match, helped secure a penalty with his skillful play in the box. He was active throughout his 67 minutes on the field, though his attempt to score from Andrei Ratiu’s pass went over the bar.
Romania’s efforts didn’t stop there. Marin also came close with a 30-yard free-kick that narrowly missed, and Denis Dragus had a chance that went past the post. Slovakia also had opportunities to win. David Strelec’s shot from close range was well saved by Florin Nita, and Lukas Haraslin’s low strike was just wide of the post.
Duda’s goal was a milestone for Slovakia. He became the first Slovakian player to score in two major international tournaments, having previously scored against Wales in Euro 2016.
The match ended with a festive atmosphere as fans and players celebrated their progress. Romania’s coach, Edward Iordanescu, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and progress. He praised the players for their resilience and the strong support from their fans.
“I believed in the players from the very beginning. We have potential and personality. We have found the spirit that we must never lose,” Iordanescu said. “We were losing again but we came back with intelligence, heart, and balance. We have written history. This is the generation of soul. It is a fantastic generation.”
The stadium was filled with yellow as Romanian fans showed their support, and Iordanescu thanked everyone in the stadium and at home in Romania, promising they would all be celebrating this historic achievement.
As the tournament moves forward, both Romania and Slovakia will be gearing up for their next matches in the knockout stages, aiming to make the most of their Euro 2024 journey.
