MUNICH (AP) — In a dramatic start to their Euro 2024 campaign, Romania secured their first European Championship victory in 24 years, sparking jubilant celebrations among their passionate yellow-clad fans. Conversely, Ukraine’s players faced their supporters with apologies after a surprisingly heavy 3-0 defeat in their opening match at Munich Arena.
Romania’s decisive win was sealed with goals from captain Nicolae Stanciu, Răzvan Marin, and Denis Drăguș. This victory marks only their second ever win in Euros history, echoing their memorable 3-2 triumph against England at Euro 2000.
Edward Iordănescu, making his debut as Romania’s coach in a European Championship – following in the footsteps of his father Anghel in 2016 – lauded his team as a “generation of soul.”
“A fantastic effort by my team. If you had any doubts, you can believe me now that this is a great team,” Iordănescu expressed, a day after his 46th birthday. “We have had golden generations. But this nation does not represent any metal, it is the generation of soul. My family have lived these kind of situations for years. But such a big heart, such a soul as this team has, no one has had that. This has to be the generation of soul for Romania. This generation is limitless.”
Adding to Romania’s dominant performance, Stanciu also struck thecrossbar. Their commanding display overshadowed Ukraine, who entered Euro 2024 carrying the weight of the ongoing war at home, hoping to provide a morale boost for their citizens amidst the turmoil of Russia’s invasion.
“Everyone apologized,” Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov stated. “The players are feeling that they didn’t do enough. Because before the game we told them here we are representing the big, strong country which is fighting more than two years for our freedom. What I am feeling, what the players are feeling, that today we didn’t do good enough. That’s why they apologized. Now we have to shut our mouths and prepare very serious for the next game to show the other Ukraine.”
The match was charged with emotion for both sides. The stadium was awash in yellow, the prominent color for both national teams, creating a visually striking scene.
For Romania, this tournament marks their first major international competition appearance in eight years. The emotional weight of the occasion was evident as several Romanian players were seen in tears during their national anthem.
Highlighting the profound context surrounding Ukraine’s participation, Ukrainian soccer officials unveiled a poignant installation in Munich: a section of a stadium stand destroyed by Russian forces in May 2022. This powerful symbol served as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“One team on the field but a million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine,” remarked former Ukraine coach and iconic striker Andriy Shevchenko, currently president of the country’s soccer federation. “We are all together. We play today for the country. We play today for the people who defend our lives and our country.”
Image alt text: Jubilant Romanian football fans in yellow jerseys celebrate their team’s unexpected victory over Ukraine at Euro 2024 in Munich, showcasing the passion of the “generation of soul”.
Ukraine’s initial game plan seemed to hold until the 29th minute. A critical error by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who inadvertently kicked the ball directly to Dennis Man, shifted the momentum. Man quickly set up Stanciu, who unleashed a powerful strike into the top left corner of the net, giving Romania the lead against the flow of play.
Early in the second half, in the 57th minute, a swift Romanian counter-attack further extended their advantage. The ball fell favorably to Răzvan Marin just outside the penalty area, and he drove a well-placed shot into the bottom left corner. Lunin, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper who had a prominent role filling in for the injured Thibaut Courtois throughout much of the season, appeared to misjudge the shot as the ball slipped under his arms.
Image alt text: Dejected Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin shows his frustration after conceding a goal to Romania during their Euro 2024 match in Munich, highlighting a tough day for the Real Madrid player.
Ukraine had demonstrated resilience in their qualifying playoff matches, achieving comeback victories in both. However, their hopes for a similar turnaround in this match were dashed in the 57th minute. Dennis Man once again played a pivotal role, skillfully maneuvering into the Ukrainian penalty area and delivering a precise pass to Drăguș for a simple tap-in, sealing Romania’s emphatic 3-0 victory in this Ukraine Romania Euro 2024 match.
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
