A lottery that helps each Romania and Slovakia. Within the final match of the group stage, the 2 groups drew 1-1. However there was not a lot that reminded us of Gijon.
Romania and Slovakia reached the spherical of 16 of the European Championship. On the final match of Group E, the 2 groups completed 1-1 (1-1) on Wednesday night (June 26, 2024) in Frankfurt/Most important. Ondrej Duda scored the objectives for Slovakia (twenty fourth) and Razvan Marin from the penalty spot (thirty seventh) for Romania. The Romanians enter the knockout stage of the European Championship as group winners, Slovakia as one of many prime 4 groups within the group in third place.
Romania in opposition to the Netherlands
Within the parallel recreation, Belgium and Ukraine drew 0-0. Belgium will enter the spherical of 16 as second within the group. Ukraine is abolished. Belgium will face their colleagues in France within the spherical of 16. Romania performs in opposition to the Netherlands, Slovakia in opposition to England.
Iordanescu: “You solely expertise one thing like that when”
“That is the largest second in our profession to date,” Romania coach Edward Iordanescu mentioned fortunately after the ultimate whistle: “I often begin by praising my gamers. This time I wish to begin with our followers. You solely expertise one thing like that annually “I am certain there might be a celebration again residence in Romania,” mentioned the 46-year-old fairly pathetically.
Slovakia vs Romania or Gijon 2.0
The draw was sufficient for each groups, as was clear earlier than the primary match. That is what Gijon 2.0 was afraid of, a duel that was pushing the ball the place each groups agree on a outcome that helps each groups, the sport was not there.
Romania has its first probability
Each the Slovaks and the Romanians began the sport overtly from the beginning. Initially of the sport, Slovakia had extra possession and had a greater passing and courting price. However the Romans had the primary probability within the recreation. Slovakian keeper Martin Dubrovka was simply capable of save a shot from Andrej Ratiu (eleventh). Shortly after, Razvan Marin tried a 30-meter free kick, however the ball went simply broad (13′).
Slovakia’s first large probability additionally got here from a free-kick: Lukas Haraslin circled the ball sharply in entrance of the objective from the left-hand touchline. The ball flew by way of the 5 meter space untouched and simply missed the far put up (22′).
ex-Köln Duda leads Slovakia
Two minutes later, Italian coach Francesco Calzona’s group have been capable of have a good time: After an excellent cross from Juraj Kucka, former Hertha and Köln participant Duda headed it into the underside proper nook – Slovakia was in led 1-0 (twenty second) and thus took the lead within the group E desk.
Romania responded unimpressed. In 30 sweltering levels in Frankfurt stadium, the southern Europeans ran in, took management of the midfield and have been rewarded. With a penalty – and solely got here at a second look.
Penalty equalizer after VAR report
What initially regarded like a foul simply exterior the penalty space was corrected with the help of video assistant referee Bastian Dankert as a substitute of Leipzig’s video: As an alternative of the primary gentle contact exterior the penalty space, the contact on the sting of the penalty space was assessed . by referee Daniel Siebert as decisive – the outcome was a penalty. And Razvan Marin didn’t miss this opportunity: the midfielder from the Italian second tier turned the ball into the highest left nook to make it 1-1 (thirty sixth).
Now, Romania, who regained the higher hand within the desk with a 1-1 draw and a goalless draw within the parallel recreation between Ukraine and Belgium, may get the higher of them. With the perfect probability, Denis Dragus shot simply broad (42′).
Full of life and offensive recreation
After a energetic first 45 minutes with either side attacking (9:7 photographs on objective for Romania), the offensive present continued instantly after the change. Slovakia obtained off to a greater begin: Haraslin examined the Romanian goalkeeper Florin Nita with a decent shot (52′).
Romania had the perfect probability within the second half to date: goalkeeper Marin examined Slovakian keeper Dubravka, and Dragus missed the opposite shot (61′).
Pouring rain and extra alternatives
Shortly after, the rain began to pour in Frankfurt, the already battered discipline obtained quicker and each groups continued to run. It’s noteworthy that Romania repeatedly relied on fast counter-attacks, whereas Slovakia regarded for luck to develop the sport in an orderly vogue.
13:9 Shot on track and celebrations on either side
Haraslin (52/65) and Dennis Vavro (76th) had one other probability for Slovakia. For Romania, Marin (61′) and Dragus (62′) missed the prospect to make it 2-1. It was solely in the previous couple of minutes that each groups slowed down a bit and stopped taking too many dangers. The sport ended 1-1 – after virtually 4 minutes of additional time and a complete of 13-9 photographs on objective for Slovakia, German referee Daniel Siebert known as the sport off. Now each groups raised their fingers in celebration. Romania survived the European Championship group stage for the primary time in 24 years – and at the same time as group winners.