Euro 2024: Romania Make History, Stun Ukraine

Euro 2024: Romania Make History, Stun Ukraine

Romania beat Ukraine 3 -0 to make History. They have never won an opener in the Euros and have always gone home after the group stages.

But, this time they qualified top of their qualifying group ahead of Switzerland. Their qualifying record shows 6 wins, 4 draws, and no losses.

Still, Romania have only won one single match in the European championship before. That was a famous 3-2 win over England in the year 2000 competition.

Romania’s defense conceded only 5 goals in 10 matches. It’s this form that they brought to the Euro 2024 tournament.

On the contrary, fancied Ukraine qualified through play-offs after failing to qualify in their group. Granted, Ukraine were favorites in this Euro 2024 opener.

But, Romania had their work cut out and didn’t show any signs of fear when beating Ukraine in this 20224 opener. Pundits forgot that Ukraine had lost 8 of their last 11 matches in the Euros.

No other participating team have lost more. But, they rightfully hyped a team with famous players like Zinchenko, Mudryk, and Yarmolenko.

Going into the match, Romania were off to a perfect start, albeit with help from Ukrainian goalkeeper, Lunin miscued clearance.

He hit the back pass ball to a Romanian player, Man, who weighed in a pass to Stanciu. Stanciu smashed it into the roof of the net in the 29th minute.

Later, Romania hit the woodwork from a corner, but went into the break leading 1-0.

In the second half, Ukraine played possession football but fell again after Mudryk got dispossessed. Razvan Marin made no mistake for a 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

Ukraine didn’t panic and went out for a goal. Still, they never threatened to score. And that’s what Romania needed.

Stanciu’s effort was palmed out y Lunin in the 5th minute. But there was no stopping Romania as their fairy tale was about to be written.

Dragus got the slightest of touches to Man’s cross and VAR allowed the goal to stand. And, bang, Romania will savor the moment they’ve never experienced before, ever.

Since 1980, no team with such low possession like Romania had (29%), has ever won by such margin in the European championship.

In the end it as Ukraine who were left to rue their pre-match hype and will have to up their game if they plan to progress from a group with Belgium and Slovakia too.

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