Romania vs Ukraine: Upset at EURO 2024 as Romania Stuns

Romania secured a historic 3-0 victory over Ukraine in their EURO 2024 Group E opener, marking their first win at a major tournament in 24 years. Captain Nicolae Stanciu opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike in the 29th minute, before Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus added two more goals in the second half to seal the impressive result.

Tactical Analysis

Romania's disciplined performance and efficient counter-attacking strategy proved crucial in the match. They soaked up Ukraine's early pressure and then struck on the counter, capitalizing on Ukraine's inability to convert their possession into clear-cut chances.

Key Moments

• Stanciu's Magnificent Strike: Stanciu's 20-yard shot into the top corner gave Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin little chance, setting the tone for Romania's dominant performance.
• Marin's Second Goal: Marin's crisp low strike from 25 yards slipped underneath Lunin, effectively wrapping up the victory for Romania.
• Dragus' Tap-In: Dragus tapped in from a well-worked short corner, securing the win for Romania and denying Ukraine any real sniff at goal.

Post-Match Reaction

Romania's coach Edward Iordanescu praised his team's high-octane performance, saying they fought for every meter on the pitch and showed great discipline and teamwork. Ukraine's coach Serhiy Rebrov acknowledged his team's inability to convert their early possession into chances and vowed to regroup for their next matches.

Conclusion

Romania's dominant 3-0 victory over Ukraine marked a significant milestone for the Romanian national team, securing their first win at a major tournament in 24 years. The match showcased Romania's tactical discipline and counter-attacking prowess, which will be crucial in their remaining group stage matches.

The Bad Tackle

Devastating result for Ukraine. Climbing out of this hole will be a tough task for the entire squad.

Romania showed a lot of maturity and composure in the match. A victory like this could push them to believe they could go further.