Romania received at a significant worldwide event for the primary time in 24 years on Monday as they beat Ukraine 3-0 at Euro 2024, helped by two errors from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Captain Nicolae Stanciu‘s magnificent long-range strike gave Romania, backed by the overwhelming majority of the Munich crowd, a first-half lead of their Group E opener. Razvan Marin’s shot from distance then skipped underneath Lunin as Romania turned the screw with two extra objectives earlier than the hour, Denis Dragus tapping house the third. It was a disastrous begin to the marketing campaign for Ukraine, who should rapidly regroup with video games to comply with towards Slovakia and Belgium.
Ukraine gamers emerged onto the pitch with Ukrainian flags draped over their shoulders within the nation’s first sport at a significant event because the Russian invasion in February 2022.
They missed out on qualifying for the World Cup two years in the past however secured a fourth successive look on the Euros, regardless of the backdrop of the most important European battle since World Struggle II.
Three years in the past Ukraine reached the quarter-finals underneath Andriy Shevchenko. However rather a lot has modified since for a rustic ravaged by struggle, together with his former striker companion Serhiy Rebrov now in cost.
Rebrov confided that merely collaborating in Germany, the place greater than 1,000,000 Ukrainians have discovered refuge, is a crucial step for the nation.
He stated he had obtained numerous messages from individuals again house, together with these preventing on the entrance line, and that it was as much as his group to “present the spirit” of Ukraine in troubled occasions.
Romania superior by means of qualifying unbeaten however had not received in 4 video games this yr forward of their return to the massive stage after lacking out on Euro 2020.
Their final and solely earlier win on the event got here after they reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2000.
Ukraine probed early on a heat afternoon on the Allianz Area with out success and paid the value for inviting stress on themselves that led to a misplaced clearance from Lunin.
The Actual Madrid stopper performed the ball straight to Dennis Man, who slid a move throughout for Stanciu to rifle a sensational 20-yard strike into the highest nook.
Lunin was instantly consoled by Oleksandr Zinchenko, however he was almost crushed once more minutes later by Stanciu, this time immediately from a nook.
After a deflected Man effort fizzed simply large, Stanciu’s inswinging nook glanced off the bar with the backpedalling Ukraine ‘keeper flapping at skinny air.
Worse was to return for Lunin as following a swift Romanian counter-attack, Marin fired a crisp low strike from 25 yards that appeared to deceive him for tempo eight minutes into the second half.
Dragus successfully wrapped up the victory shortly after when he prodded in as Man knocked the ball throughout the six-yard field following a well-worked quick nook.
Romania goalkeeper Florin Nita saved properly from Georgiy Sudakov late on earlier than substitute Roman Yaremchuk’s lob grazed the bar on its manner over, encapsulating what was a day to neglect for Ukraine.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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