Roaring Romania smash Ukraine 3-0 in the opening match of Euro 2024 Group E.
Roaring Romania smash Ukraine 3-0 in the opening match of Euro 2024 Group E.
After impressing in friendly fixtures for Romania during the 2024 international schedule, 36-year-old Florian Nita was handed the honour of standing in between the sticks for his nation in their major tournament opener, with Atletico Madrid’s Horatiu Moldovan settling for a place on the bench after failing to feature in club football since January.
There was also notable omissions in the XI at the top end of the pitch as Gaziantep man Denis Dragus was given the responsibility of leading the line, with both George Puscas and Denis Alibec cosigned to bench roles alongside the out-of-favour Ianis Hagi, who is on the books of Rangers.
Picking up an injury in training on Saturday, Ukraine’s Vitalii Mykolenko was forced to start the match on the substitutes’ bench alongside veteran Andriy Yarmolenko, who was not selected in his country’s starting side despite being involved in five of their eight goals at the European Championships before this fixture.
Comfortable with playing in midfield areas and at his natural position of left-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko was the Premier League representative for the Blue and Yellow, whilst Artem Dovbyk providing a flavour of La Liga for Ukraine, with the Girona marksman fresh off winning the Golden Boot in Spain.
Looking for only their fourth win at the European Championships at the 12th attempt, Ukraine assumed control of the contest in the early stages at the Allianz Arena as they pressed and probed a Romania team who were defensively sound in qualifying, conceding just five goals in 10 matches.
As much as Edward Iordanescu might be criticised for his conservative approach, the stubbornness of his troops in the first period was commendable, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur star Radu Dragusin, Andrei Burca and midfielder Marius Marin setting the examples in a team which relishes a battle.
Having been pretty passive in the opening 30 minutes without the ball, it was a individual press from Razvan Marin that set off a chain reaction which allowed the Triclours to take the lead in the contest, sending their passionate supporters inside the Allianz Arena into hysterics.
The Empoli man pressured Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin into a poor clearance which was intercepted by Dennis Man, who played the ball into the path of Nicolae Stanciu on the edge of the box, and without even taking a glance at the Ukrainian goal, Romania’s captain fantastic hit a sweeping effort into the top-left corner.
The 31-year-old’s 15th international goal was enough to give Iordanescu’s men a one-goal lead at the break, although the numerous blocks from Dragusin and Burca at centre-back were equally as important in Romania’s quest to enter the second period with superiority.
After failing to register a shot on their opponents’ net in during the opening 45 minutes – and with star striker Dovbyk being bullied out of the contest – Sergiy Rebrov’s men needed a promising start to the second period, however things were about to get significantly worse for the Euro 2020 quarter-finalists.
Following excellent work from Denis Dragus to hold up the ball, Romania’s blue-haired whippet Andrei Ratiu raced down the right flank on the counter, with the Rayo Vallecano defender finding the feet of Man, who eventually lost possession after running into trouble in the middle.
The danger for Ukraine was nowhere near its conclusion, though, as the loose ball dribbled towards the onrushing Razvan Marin, who unleashed a low-driven strike from outside the box, with the effort bouncing off the turf and slipping underneath of the attentions of Lunin.
Having failed to find the net in friendlies against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein prior to their trip to the Allianz Arena, supporters of the Tricolours would be excused for pinching themselves in disbelief at their side’s excitable attacking display, and Romania managed to extend their advantage further just before the hour.
After playing a smart one-two with captain Stanciu from a short corner, Parma winger Man waltzed into the Ukraine box and glided past the tackle of one defender, with the 25-year-old picking up his second assist of the afternoon when Dragus tap home from point-blank range following a low cross.
With three points on the board, Romania will probably require one more point to ensure they feature in the knockout stages of the Euros for only the second time in their history, with a battle against Group E favourites Belgium next up at Cologne Stadium on Saturday night.
Ukraine will have three full days to dwell on a disastrous defeat in Munich before they play their second fixture of the section on Friday afternoon, when anything other than a victory against Slovakia would put the Blue and Yellow’s progression to last 16 into serious doubt.
More to follow.
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