Thunder, lightening and joy as Romania and Slovakia share spoils

June 26 – The permutations in Group E prior to kick-off were a mathematician’s dream. Belgium, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania all had a chance to finish in every position from 1st to 4th as they all entered play on three points.

Of the four countries, Ukraine was the most at risk as their goal difference was inferior, which technically allowed Slovakia and Romania to throw phantom punches and take no risks.

With more than 40,000 yellow-clad Romanians knowing that a place in the last 16 was all but secured they turned the Deutsche Bank Park into one huge yellow party. Romanian head coach, Edward Iordanescu said as much 24 hours before the match knowing that a draw would be a perfect result to send his country into the knockout rounds for the first time since Euro 2000.

With the spectre of the ‘Disgrace of Gijón’, hanging over the heads of both teams though, the effort levels in the opening ten minutes were highly impressive as the match crackled into life driven by two passionate sets of supporters.

Ondrej Duda opened the scoring for Slovakia

In the 11th minute, the first real chance fell to Romania. Andrei Ratiu played a tidy one-two and curled his shot towards the top right-hand corner that Martin Dubravka pushed away but only as far as Ianis Hagi, son of the Romanian great Gheorghe, aka The Maradona of the Carpathians. Unfortunately, it wasn’t father-like son as the youngster blazed his effort over the bar.

Three minutes later another Romanian opportunity. A free-kick forty yards from goal and Razvan Marin instead of crossing went for the target, missing by inches. A statement of intent.

When Slovakian coach, Francesco Calzona, was asked about a draw in the pre-match conference he responded that he sends out his team to win every game. In the 24th minute, they would lead as Ondrej Duda found himself completely unmarked. The header into the far corner was perfection. Slovakia in 1st place, Romania, 4th and out!

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Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/26/thunder-lightening-joy-romania-slovakia-share-spoils/

Author : Paul Nicholson

Publish date : 2024-06-26 19:25:01

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