Romania put on a high-intensity display on Monday to secure a convincing 3-0 win over Ukraine in their opening Euro 2024 Group E match, ending a 24-year drought of victories at the tournament. True to coach Edward Iordanescu's pre-match promise, the players fought tirelessly for every ball, defending in organized waves and diving into tackles while their passionate fans cheered them on.
Romania delivered a high-octane performance to win their first European Championship match in 24 years, securing a dominant 3-0 victory over Ukraine in their Euro 2024 Group E opening encounter on Monday. Before the match, Romania coach Edward Iordanescu promised his players would fight for every meter on the pitch, and they delivered the same, leaping into tackles and racing all over to defend in waves while their loud fans cheered them on.
Ukraine had the upper hand for the first 20 minutes, but were stunned by two brilliant strikes from distance—one from captain and man-of-the-match Nicolae Stanciu and another from Razvan Marin. Stanciu's rocket into the top corner was unstoppable for Andriy Lunin, while the Real Madrid keeper had a tougher time with the second goal, which evaded him as he attempted the save.
Reflecting on the match, Stanciu called his goal the highlight of his career and praised the extraordinary atmosphere created by the fans. On the other hand, Serhiy Rebrov's squad paid dearly for their inability to capitalize on early possession; Romania simply absorbed the pressure and launched a counter-attack after stealing the ball deep in their own half.
Dennis Man made history as the first Romanian to record multiple assists in a single major tournament game since Gheorghe Hagi did so against Colombia in 1994. He sparked the opening goal by pouncing on a poor clearance from Lunin and feeding Stanciu. The victory was sealed just before the hour mark when Man surged into the area following a corner and crossed for Denis Dragus to finish with a simple tap-in.
A disciplined Romanian defense kept Ukraine at bay, marking only the second win for the nation in 17 European Championship games, the last being a 3-2 victory over England in 2000. After the whistle, the players celebrated together on the field with their cheering fans, though the moment was briefly interrupted by two pitch intruders who were quickly removed by security.
Speaking after the win, Iordanescu praised his players' spirit, stating that while previous generations may have had more talent, this current squad embodies the soul of the country. He emphasized their unmatched heart and effort, claiming that this generation's potential is limitless.
In other Group E action on Monday, Slovakia pulled off a gritty 1-0 win over a disorganized Belgium side, thanks to a record-breaking early goal from Ivan Schranz—the fastest ever scored by Slovakia in a major tournament.