Euro 2024: Romania thrash Ukraine 3-0 in historic match
Romania claimed their second ever win at Euro 2024 - and their first in 24 years - with a 3-0 win over neighbours Ukraine on Monday to give coach Eduard Iordanescu a late birthday present.
Nicolae Stanciu put Romania ahead with a long-range strike in the first half before quickfire goals from Razvan Marin and Denis Mihai Dragus early in the second.
It was Romania's first win at a major tournament since a shock 3-2 win over England 24 years ago.
Iordanescu, who became the first coach to take Romania to the European Championship since his father Anghel in 2016, turned 46 on Sunday.
Staniu also hit the bar as Romania thrashed Ukraine, who are playing Euro 2024 against a war at home and are hoping to give their countrymen some joy even as Russian missiles continue to rain down on the country.
The Ukrainian Football Federation unveiled a replica of a stadium stand destroyed by Russian forces in May 2022, highlighting the ongoing conflict, in Munich ahead of the match.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
— عمرو (@bt3) June 17, 2024
خيااااااااااااااااااااااااااالي، هدف اليورو حتى الآن 😨
هدف خيالي خيالي خيالي من ستانشيو
🇷🇴 رومانيا 1-0 أوكرانيا 🇺🇦
pic.twitter.com/XaFGARNkA5
“One team is on the pitch but (there are) a million soldiers left and defending Ukraine,” said Andriy Shevchenko, a former Ukrainian coach and striker who is now the head of the country’s football federation. “We are all together, today we play for the country, today we play for those who defend our lives and our country.”
It was an emotional match for both teams.
It was Romania’s first major tournament appearance in eight years and several players cried during the national anthem.
