Romania delivered a resounding performance in their Euro 2024 Group E opener, defeating Ukraine 3-0 to secure their first European Championship win in 24 years. Stunning long-range goals in each half, one from captain Nicolae Stanciu and the other from midfielder Razvan Marin, shocked Serhiy Rebrov’s Ukraine, who had dominated the opening 20 minutes of the match. Stanciu’s powerful shot into the top right-hand corner gave Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin no chance. While Lunin could have done better on the second goal, allowing the ball to slip underneath him as he dived, it was Romania’s counter-attacking prowess that ultimately proved decisive.
Romania expertly soaked up the pressure from Ukraine’s early dominance, patiently waiting for the opportune moment to strike. They effectively dispossessed Ukraine deep in their own half and capitalized on the turnovers to launch dangerous counterattacks.
The victory was all but sealed shortly before the hour mark when influential forward Dennis Man drove into the box from a corner and crossed the ball for Denis Dragus to tap in. Romania’s robust defense, shutting down any meaningful Ukrainian attacks, played a pivotal role in securing the victory. This marked only Romania’s second win in 17 European Championship matches, their previous win being a 3-2 victory over England at Euro 2000.
For Romania coach Edward Iordanescu, whose father Anghel led the team to the 1994 World Cup quarterfinals, the victory was a fitting birthday present and a testament to the team’s unbeaten qualifying campaign. It showcased their ability to perform under pressure and highlighted their potential for success in the tournament.
