MUNICH (AP) — In a dramatic turn at Munich Arena, Romania delivered a stunning performance, securing their first European Championship win in 24 years and leaving Ukraine reeling from a 3-0 defeat in their Euro 2024 opener. The Romanian players erupted in joyous celebration with their passionate, yellow-clad fans, a stark contrast to the somber Ukrainian squad who offered apologies to their crestfallen supporters.
Captain Nicolae Stanciu ignited the Romanian triumph with a spectacular opening goal, followed by strikes from Răzvan Marin and Denis Drăguș. This victory marks only Romania’s second ever win in Euros history, echoing their memorable 3-2 victory 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 declared, just 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.” He emphasized, “My family have lived these kinds 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.”
Image alt text: Jubilant Romanian supporters dressed in yellow wave flags and cheer after Romania’s unexpected win against Ukraine at the Euro 2024 match in Munich.
Stanciu’s powerful strike wasn’t his only contribution; he also rattled the crossbar as Romania comprehensively outplayed Ukraine. For Ukraine, participating in Euro 2024 is deeply intertwined with the ongoing war at home. The team hoped to provide a beacon of joy for their citizens enduring the hardships of Russia’s invasion, making the defeat even more poignant.
“Everyone apologized,” Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov admitted. “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.”
Rebrov continued, “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 seriously for the next game to show the other Ukraine.”
The match was charged with emotion for both sides. The Munich Arena was awash in yellow, the dominant color for both national teams, creating a visually striking atmosphere.
Romania’s appearance at this major tournament is their first in eight years, adding to the significance of their victory. The emotional weight of the occasion was evident as several Romanian players were moved to tears during their national anthem.
Image alt text: Dismayed Ukraine national team players react on the pitch after Romania scores during their Euro 2024 Group E match in Munich.
Highlighting the somber backdrop for Ukraine, soccer officials unveiled a poignant installation in Munich – a section of a stadium stand destroyed by Russian forces in May 2022. This stark reminder underscored the immense challenges faced by Ukraine and the symbolic importance of their participation in Euro 2024.
“One team on the field but a million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine,” stated Andriy Shevchenko, former Ukraine coach and legendary striker, now 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.”
Ukraine’s initial composure unravelled in the 29th minute. A costly error by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, kicking the ball directly to Dennis Man, set the stage for Stanciu’s thunderous strike into the top left corner, defying the flow of the game.
Image alt text: Romania’s midfielder Nicolae Stanciu celebrates scoring the first goal against Ukraine in their Euro 2024 match at Munich Arena.
Early in the second half, Romania capitalized on a swift counter-attack. The ball fell favorably to Marin just outside the box, who drove a low shot into the bottom left corner. Lunin, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper who had a prominent season filling in for the injured Thibaut Courtois, was unfortunate as the ball slipped under his grasp.
Ukraine, who demonstrated resilience with comeback victories in both of their qualifying playoff matches, saw their hopes of a turnaround dashed in the 57th minute. Man, displaying impressive skill, navigated his way into the penalty area and delivered a precise pass to Drăguș for a simple tap-in, sealing Romania’s emphatic victory in this Ukraine Euro 2024 match.
