Romania made history at the European Nations Cup by securing their first victory in 24 years, shocking Ukraine with a 3-0 triumph in Munich. The match was part of the first round of Group E in the 2024 edition held in Germany.
Nicolae Stanciu opened the scoring for Romania with a spectacular shot in the 29th minute, following a defensive mishap by Ukraine's goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Razvan Marin delivered another blow to Ukraine's hopes by netting a powerful shot from outside the box in the 53rd minute. Just minutes later, Denis Dragush solidified Romania's lead, making it 3-0.
The victory marks Romania's second win in five participations in the European Cup, with their last victory dating back to 2000 when they defeated England 3-2. This win puts Romania at the top of Group E, which also includes Belgium and Slovakia.
The Allianz Arena was awash in the yellow colors of both teams' supporters. Ukraine, playing under the shadow of ongoing conflict with Russia, struggled to capitalize on early possession advantages. Despite controlling 70% of the game in the first fifteen minutes, Ukrainian efforts were thwarted by a solid Romanian defense.
Romania's offensive surge continued in the second half, with Marie scoring after a mistake from Lunin, and Dragush converting a well-placed cross from Denis Man. Ukraine, although marked by their conflict at home, was unable to find the net, despite several attempts in the concluding minutes of the game.
Romanian coach Edward Iordanescu capitalized on the lead, introducing Ianis Hagi to the pitch, son of the famous Romanian player Gheorghe Hagi. Romania next faces Belgium in Cologne, while Ukraine will play against Slovakia in Stuttgart.
Both teams are vying for second place in Group E, with Belgium widely expected to top the group. Romania's resounding victory gives them a strong start in the race for qualification into the knockout stages.
- Romania's win over Ukraine was televised live on free TV channels like RTL, which provided comprehensive coverage starting from 2 p.m. Additionally, fans could view the game via the RTL+ streaming service, though it required a subscription.
- Magenta TV also aired the game live, offering previews starting at 2:15 p.m., with kick-off at 3 p.m. Access to the stream required a valid MagentaTV subscription, priced at 10 euros per month for the Flex tariff.
- Prior to the European Championship, Ukraine had shown promise with decent performances, including a draw against Germany. Romania, however, had experienced a drought in international victories, making this win even more significant.
