Romania delivered a shocking 3-0 victory against Ukraine in their Euro 2024 Group E opener at Munich Arena, marking their first European Championship win in 24 years. The unexpected triumph sent waves of elation through the Romanian camp and their supporters, while leaving Ukraine to grapple with a disappointing defeat.
Nicolae Stanciu, the Romanian captain, ignited the scoreline with a spectacular strike, followed by goals from Răzvan Marin and Denis Drăguș, securing only Romania’s second-ever win in Euros history. This victory echoed their memorable 3-2 win against England at Euro 2000, etching another significant moment into Romanian football history.
Edward Iordănescu, the Romanian coach, celebrated this milestone as the first coach to lead Romania in a European Championship since his father Anghel in 2016. Overjoyed by the performance, Iordănescu 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, highlighting the significance of the win 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.”
Image: Romanian supporters in yellow jerseys jubilantly celebrate their team’s surprising victory over Ukraine at Euro 2024, creating a sea of yellow in the stands of Munich Arena.
Stanciu’s influence extended beyond his goal, as he also rattled the crossbar, underscoring Romania’s dominant performance against a Ukraine team that entered Euro 2024 with hopes of providing solace to their war-stricken nation. Ukraine, playing against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict at home, aimed to bring joy to their citizens enduring Russia’s invasion.
Serhiy Rebrov, Ukraine’s coach, acknowledged the team’s shortcomings and the weight of their national responsibility. “Everyone apologized,” Rebrov stated, reflecting on the team’s emotional response. “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 laden with emotion for both sides, amplified by the stadium’s vibrant display of yellow, the shared primary color of both national teams. For Romania, this Euro 2024 appearance marked their return to a major tournament after an eight-year absence. The emotional weight of the occasion was palpable, with several Romanian players shedding tears during their national anthem.
Image: A somber Serhiy Rebrov, the Ukraine coach, is seen in conversation with his players on the pitch after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Romania in the Euro 2024 match.
Adding a poignant layer to the event, Ukrainian soccer officials installed a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict – an installation in Munich featuring a stadium stand destroyed by Russian forces in May 2022. Andriy Shevchenko, former Ukraine coach and president of the country’s soccer federation, emphasized the symbolic significance of their participation. “One team on the field but a million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine,” Shevchenko said. “We are all together. We play today for the country. We play today for the people who defend our lives and our country.”
Image: A section of a damaged stadium stand, symbolizing the war in Ukraine, is displayed as an installation in Munich during Euro 2024, highlighting the team’s resilience and the ongoing conflict.
The tide turned in the 29th minute when a costly error by Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who miskicked the ball directly to Dennis Man, led to Stanciu’s stunning opening goal. The momentum shifted further in the second half. Eight minutes after the restart, a swift Romanian counter-attack culminated in Răzvan Marin’s strike from just outside the box, with Lunin again faltering as the ball slipped under his grasp.
Ukraine’s hopes for a comeback, reminiscent of their qualifying playoff victories, were dashed in the 57th minute. Man, after a skillful dribble into the box, set up Drăguș for an easy tap-in, sealing Romania’s emphatic 3-0 victory. Despite Ukraine’s prior resilience, Romania’s clinical performance ensured a dominant win in this emotionally charged Euro 2024 match.
