Romania has done its homework and has achieved victory in its debut in the European Championship against Ukraine. It was difficult for both teams to get into the task with a flat and timid first half for both teams. Neither has created great chances, neither of them has generated too much danger except on one occasion for those who were playing at home, which Stanciu did not hesitate to take advantage of and sent the ball into the back of Lunin’s goal. Marin and Dragus They extended the distance on the scoreboard to certify Romania’s victory against Ukraine.
The match began with a political overtone, as the Ukrainian players took to the field with their country’s flag tied around their necks. A gesture to draw international attention to the war in his country after the invasion of Russia, a conflict that began two and a half years ago; within the framework of the Euro Cup. One by one they took to the field with the emblem. The starting eleven: Andriy Lunin, Yukhym Konoplia, Illia Zabarnyi, Mykola Matviyenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mykola Shaparenko, Taras Stepanenko, Viktor Tsygankov, Georgiy Sudakov, Mykhailo Mudryk and Artem Dovbyk. With the flag flying behind their backs they listened to the anthem of their country. After that, they put the flags on the bench and took positions to begin their first challenge against Romania in the Euro Cup.
Nyberg indicated the start of the match with the initial whistle and the ball started rolling in the Allianz Arena, in Munich. The first minutes were timid for both teams, both approached the rival area without creating any dangerous chances that would put some of the two goalkeepers under tension. Romania had one of the few dangerous chances, if not the only one, which they did not hesitate to take advantage of. Lunin clears a bad ball that ends up at the feet of Dennis Man, who gives the ball to Stanciu. The first-class midfielder sent an unstoppable dive for the Ukrainian goalkeeper. 1-0 on the scoreboard. The remaining minutes before the break followed the same dynamic without too many chances on the part of either team.
The second half of the game was like night and day. It is not known what the Romanian coach, Iordanescu, has said to his players, but the truth is that it has been effective. With a renewed Romania, things were beginning to work out. The ball was rolling and the dangerous positions were becoming more and more constant. The chances kept coming and the truth is that it didn’t take long for them to see the goal.
In the 53rd minute the second goal arrived. A divided ball on the edge of the area that Razvan Marin catches and without controlling it, he looks up and shoots at Lunin’s goal, who slips the ball under his arms. Victory was getting closer. And if Ukraine had any hope of closing the gap and coming back in the game, it came to nothing just four minutes later, when Dragus put the cherry on top of the match with a third goal that had just sunk Ukraine.
The score remained at this same distance until the referee signaled the end of the match and certified Romania’s victory, the great surprise so far in the competition. The truth is that no one expected Iordanescu’s men to prevail over Lunin’s Ukraine. The bets predicted that it would be the Ukrainians who emerged victorious in their debut in the tournament, but that was not the case. Romania has hit the table to announce that it has a lot of football to show.
