MUNICH (AP) — In a stunning start to their Euro 2024 campaign, Romania delivered a dominant performance against Ukraine, securing a 3-0 victory that resonated with their passionate fans. The sea of yellow-clad Romanian supporters erupted in celebration at Munich Arena as their team clinched their first European Championship win in 24 years.
Conversely, the Ukrainian side faced their own reality check. At the opposite end of the stadium, Ukraine’s players offered heartfelt apologies to their crestfallen fans after an unexpectedly heavy defeat. The goals from captain Nicolae Stanciu, Răzvan Marin, and Denis Drăguș marked only Romania’s second-ever win in Euros history, reminiscent of 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, who managed the team in 2016 – lauded his team as a “generation of soul.” His pride was palpable as he stated, “A fantastic effort by my team. If you had any doubts, you can believe me now that this is a great team.” Reflecting on the team’s spirit, Iordănescu, who had just celebrated his 46th birthday, added, “We have had golden generations. But this nation does not represent any metal, it is the generation of soul… This generation is limitless.”
Adding to Romania’s dominance, Stanciu also rattled the woodwork, underscoring their comprehensive victory over a Ukraine team that entered Euro 2024 with hopes of providing solace to their war-stricken nation. Amidst the ongoing conflict at home, Ukraine’s participation in the tournament carried a symbolic weight, aiming to bring a moment of joy to citizens enduring the hardships of Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov acknowledged the team’s shortcomings and the weight of expectation. “Everyone apologized,” Rebrov somberly 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.” He emphasized the need for immediate focus and improvement, saying, “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’s visual landscape was dominated by yellow, the prominent color for both national teams, creating a vibrant atmosphere. For Romania, this tournament marked their return to a major international stage after an eight-year absence. The emotional weight of the occasion was evident as several Romanian players were moved to tears during their national anthem.
Adding a poignant layer to Ukraine’s participation, Ukrainian soccer officials had unveiled an installation in Munich, showcasing a stadium stand destroyed by Russian forces in May 2022. This powerful symbol served as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and the stakes for Ukraine. “One team on the field but a million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine,” declared Andriy Shevchenko, former Ukraine coach and current president of the country’s soccer federation. “Andriy Shevchenko, the 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.”
The game remained goalless until the 29th minute, when a critical error shifted the momentum decisively. Ukraine’s goalkeeper Andriy Lunin’s errant kick landed directly at Dennis Man, who promptly set up Stanciu for a powerful strike that found the top left corner of the net, defying the flow of play up to that point.
Extending their lead early in the second half, Romania capitalized on a swift counter-attack. In the 53rd minute, the ball fell favorably to Marin just outside the box, and he drove a precise shot into the bottom left corner. Lunin, the Real Madrid goalkeeper who had a prominent role for his club due to Thibaut Courtois’ injury, was again partly culpable as the ball slipped under his grasp.
Romania sealed their emphatic victory in the 57th minute. Man once again played a pivotal role, skillfully navigating into the penalty area and delivering a composed pass to Drăguș for a simple tap-in, completing the 3-0 scoreline in this Romania Vs Ukraine Euro 2024 match.
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
