Watch Romania vs Ukraine full match replay and highlights.
KICK-OFF at 13:00 (GMT) on 17th June 2024
The referee for this match is G. Nyberg
Game played at Fußball Arena München
This is a match in Europe – UEFA European Championship, Group E, Season 2024
Romania Thrashes Ukraine 3-0 in Group E Euro 2024 Opener
Romania celebrated their first UEFA European Championship victory in eight matches with a commanding 3-0 win over Ukraine in their Group E opener. This emphatic performance sets the tone for their Euro 2024 campaign and signals a potential resurgence for the Tricolorii on the continental stage.
Dominant First Half
The match kicked off with Romania displaying a level of ambition absent in their recent goalless draws against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein. Early on, Florinel Coman tested Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin with a long-distance shot, signaling Romania’s attacking intent.
Despite Lunin’s recent impressive form for Real Madrid, he faltered shortly before the half-hour mark. His misplaced pass found Dennis Man, who laid it off to Romanian captain Nicolae Stanciu. Stanciu’s superbly curled shot from 25 yards out nestled into the top corner, giving Romania a deserved lead. Stanciu nearly doubled the lead before halftime, hitting the crossbar directly from a corner after Taras Stepenenko deflected Man’s strike narrowly wide.
Second Half Surge
Leading at halftime, Romania intensified their efforts in the second half. They capitalized on more defensive errors from Ukraine, quickly extending their lead. Răzvan Marin struck first, his first-time shot sneaking under Lunin’s gloves to make it 2-0. Just minutes later, Denis Drăguș tapped in a cross from Man, putting Romania firmly in control with a 3-0 lead.
Ukraine’s Struggles
Despite enjoying more possession as the game progressed, Ukraine struggled to create meaningful chances. Their first shot on target came in the 77th minute, a powerful strike from Georgiy Sudakov that required a remarkable save from Florin Niță. Roman Yaremchuk hit the bar in injury time, but these efforts were too little, too late for Serhiy Rebrov’s men.
Looking Ahead
This convincing victory allows Romania to look forward to their upcoming clash with group favorites Belgium with renewed confidence. For Ukraine, the road ahead is steep. They must regroup quickly and secure a win against Slovakia to keep their hopes of progression alive, with the margin of this defeat underscoring the urgency for a strong response.