European Soccer Championship
There was speak of attainable agreements earlier than the European Championship match between Slovakia and Romania. There was no signal of him on the sphere. There was nonetheless a pull.
Slovakia with Lukas Haraslin (c) and Romania with Andrei Ratiu each reached the spherical of 16.
Photograph: Arne Dedert/dpa
With the ultimate whistle there was the sound of pleasure from 47,000 throats, then the professionals from Romania and Slovakia began a fantastic soccer celebration with their followers. With 1:1 (1:1) on the primary remaining match of Group E, each groups reached the spherical of 16 of the European Championship for the second time in historical past.
“That is the most important second of our careers to date. I normally begin by praising my gamers. This time I need to begin with our followers. You solely expertise one thing like that after in your life. I am positive there shall be celebrations again residence in Romania,” stated Romania’s coach, Edward Iordanescu, with a smile on his face.
The sensation among the many Slovaks was comparable. “It is a candy draw for us. We deserve progress,” stated defenseman David Hancko. And goalkeeper Martin Dubravka stated of reaching the final 16: “It means a lot to everybody in our nation and it is a purpose to have a good time. It is nice.”
In a spirited match that was vigorous for a very long time on Wednesday in Frankfurt, the place the oppressive warmth was adopted by a violent storm, the rivals achieved precisely the consequence they wanted to advance each really feel like winners. Former Bundesliga skilled Ondrej Duda gave Slovakia the lead within the twenty fourth minute. For the Romanians, Razvan Marin (thirty seventh) equalized with a penalty after a controversial choice by the video assistant.
With the 0-0 draw within the parallel match between Belgium and Ukraine, Slovakia completed the preliminary spherical in Group E in third place and can due to this fact face England within the spherical of 16. The winners of the group in Romania will face the Netherlands.
The indicators earlier than the sport have been clear: the ultimate was sufficient for each groups to advance to the spherical of 16. Earlier than the duel between the 2 strangers, there was already hypothesis a couple of repeat of Gijón’s humiliation on the 1982 World Cup, when Austria and Germany agreed on a non-aggression pact to proceed.
“There might be no query of settlement,” wrote the Romanian on-line portal “adevarul” and stated: “There’s justice on this world too.”
Each groups did not need to hear something in regards to the ball being pushed round beforehand. “We’re professionals. We all know {that a} lottery might assist us progress. “However that does not imply something,” Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona stated. And Romanian coach Edward Iordanescu stated: “We are going to progress and we need to end this group in first place. Then you could have a sure benefit when it comes to restoration days and the opponent.”
Each groups adopted their phrases with motion and performed bravely within the early levels. Andrei Ratiu had the primary likelihood as he was pushed by the loud Romanian followers. However Martin Dubravka blocked the shot of the person with the dyed blue hair within the Slovakian aim. Ianis Hagi put the rebound over the aim. The son of former soccer star Gheorghe Hagi performed at first of this European Championship for the primary time.
The Slovaks additionally turned harmful offensively. A tough free kick from Lukas Haraslin ran by the Romanian penalty space, but additionally went huge of the goal. A short time later, Duda was there along with his head.
After conceding the aim, the Romans at first appeared somewhat shocked. Within the thirty fourth minute, Slovakian defender David Hancko knocked Hagi off his ft on the sting of the penalty space. German referee Daniel Siebert initially selected a free kick. After the video assistant checked, the 40-year-old pointed to the penalty spot – a controversial choice. “It is a discretionary choice,” stated Siebert’s colleague Patrick Ittrich on MagentaTV. Marin transformed the penalty safely.
Each groups remained brave at first of the second half. When the storm hit the stadium, scoring alternatives arose once more for each side. Romanian aim scorer Marin was denied by Dubravka from distance, and some minutes later Denis Dragus virtually had a shot. For Slovakia, David Strelec and Haraslin have been very shut to creating it 2-1.