Romania and Slovakia each certified for the final 16 at Euro 2024 after drawing 1-1 of their final Group E video games on Wednesday. Ondrej Duda put Slovakia forward within the first half, however Romania's Rajvan Marin equalised with a penalty earlier than the interval. All 4 groups within the group earned 4 factors from their three video games, with Romania topping the desk by scoring extra targets than second-placed Belgium. Slovakia completed third because of a greater aim distinction than fourth-placed Ukraine.
It was a memorable second for Romania, who reached the knockout stage of the Euros for the primary time in 24 years.
Romania have certified for the final 16 solely as soon as of their 5 Euro appearances, however Edward Iordanescu's decided facet have ended that lengthy drought. They responded to Iordanescu's pre-match problem with a belligerent show powered by their military of vocal followers who turned the stadium right into a sea of ​​yellow.
That is the third time Slovakia has reached the knockout stage of a serious match. They reached the final 16 on the 2010 World Cup and the identical stage at Euro 2016.
Figuring out that each groups would progress in the event that they drew, critics had prompt they’d play out a mutually helpful stalemate. However Romania confirmed no signal of being happy with a degree as they began brightly.
They threatened early when Andrei Ratiu's highly effective shot was parried away by Martin Dubravka, and Ianis Hagi scored from the rebound.
Romania Mosh-Pit
Marin fired a long-range free-kick huge late on however the ball missed narrowly as Romania seemed to capitalise on their early lead.
Slovakia had been inches away from taking the lead as Lukas Haraslin's free-kick went by means of a crowd of gamers and landed on the far put up. It was a warning that Romania ignored and Slovakia went forward within the twenty fourth minute.
Juraj Kucka whipped in a deep cross which caught the Romanian defence off guard, and the unmarked Duda had the possibility to stab a header previous Florin Nita from eight yards.
Romania's response was emphatic, as they equalised within the thirty seventh minute because of a formidable aim from the son of former Barcelona and Actual Madrid star Gheorghe Hagi.
David Hancko's foul on Hagi was declared a penalty by VAR, after referee Daniel Siebert initially mentioned the offence occurred simply exterior the realm.
Marin stepped up and smashed the spot-kick into the roof of the online, sending the Romanian followers right into a frenzy and sending your complete stadium right into a frenzy.
The sweltering warmth of Frankfurt gave approach to an enormous storm within the second half, when thunder, lightning and rain ripped by means of the stadium. It was the backdrop to a tense conflict that got here near getting into Romania's favour when Marin pressured a tremendous save from Dubravka earlier than Denis Dragus hit the roof of the online.
Haraslin's roller sailed over the far put up because the storm subsided however though there was no winner, each groups continued to rejoice their development to the knockout stage.
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