Romania advances to EURO 2024 round of 16
Romania’s national team achieved an outstanding performance, qualifying to the round of 16 at EURO 2024
Florin Orban, 27.06.2024, 14:00
“We’re not leaving”, thousands of Romanian football fans chanted in the stands on Wednesday after the Romanian national team qualified to the knock-out phase at the European Championship hosted by Germany. Much better rated teams than Romania, such as Croatia, Poland, Scotland or Serbia, have already gone home. At the same time, teams such as Georgia or Slovenia, ranked 74th and 57th respectively in world standings, also secured qualification. Romania achieved the notable performance of winning Group E, the most balanced of all EURO 2024 groups. All teams finished with the same number of points – 4 each, but only three advanced to the round of 16 owing to a better goal average: Romania, Belgium and Slovakia. Ukraine did not qualify, partly because of the severe 0-3 defeat to Romania in the first match. The Romanian side secured qualification after drawing 1-1 against Slovakia on Wednesday. Over 30 thousand Romanian fans colored the arena in Frankfurt yellow, and the team did not disappoint. The Romanian footballers displayed pragmatism, but also the same passion they showed from the start of the competition. Slovakia led 1-0 after the goal scored by Ondrej Duda on minute 24. Then Romania pressed the attack, and on minute 37, Ianis Hagi obtained a penalty kick. Răzvan Marin scored, and the two teams remained tied until full time. After the match, the Romanian national team headcoach, Edward Iordănescu, said:
“I usually start by congratulating the boys, but this time I’ll start by bowing to the fans, the Romanians who came out for us. These are moments I think you experience just once in your lifetime. And we owe that to everyone here who made us feel at home and not just tonight, but for all the three matches. We thank those back home in Romania who, I’m sure, are now celebrating and are proud to call themselves Romanian. With regard to the boys, I am proud of them, I congratulate them from the bottom of my heart, I did the same after the game… I never stopped believing in them. Romania has talent, Romania has potential. Romania must have character and work hard. Romania has found its spirit, and we must hold on tight to that”.
On Tuesday, the Romanian footballers will return to Munich to take on the Netherlands in the round of 16. Tickets for this game are still on sale, and fans are expected to come in large numbers on Allianz Arena to cheer for their team. Romania is not favorite to win the confrontation, but they are once again presented with the opportunity of achieving a historic performance that is sure to bring Romanians out in the streets again. (VP)
