Romania and Slovakia confirmed the pre-match predictions for a draw. The final match in Group E of Euro 2024 ended in a 1-1 draw between Romania and Slovakia, a result that both sides had anticipated and which secured their place in the knockout stage, after the draw between Belgium and Ukraine in the other match in the group.
Romania pulled off a surprise by finishing top of the group with four points, the same number as Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Belgium finished second, Slovakia third, and Ukraine, the only team to not advance, finished bottom.
Despite Slovakia’s more active start, it was Romania who created the first dangerous goal-scoring opportunity in the 10th minute. Florinel Coman received a pass in the penalty area and fired a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Slovakia also had a good chance to score. In the 22nd minute, a cross from a free kick took a wicked deflection into the Romanian penalty area, where David Hancko deflected it slightly, but none of his teammates could get a touch on it to score.
Two minutes later, Ivan Haskovic’s men deservedly took the lead thanks to their total dominance. Their midfield mainstay Juraj Kucka immediately crossed from the right flank to the unmarked Ondrej Duda, who headed home to make it 1-0.
The Slovaks’ lead, however, did not last long. Left-back David Hancko misjudged his movement and tripped an opponent. German referee Daniel Siebert initially awarded a direct free kick, but the VAR assistants determined that the foul had occurred in the penalty area, forcing the referee to point to the spot. Razvan Marin stepped up and sent a rocket past Martin Dubravka.
Slovakia started the second half with more confidence and could have regained the lead through Lukas Haraslin, but the winger’s shot from the left was weak and easily saved by Florin Nita.
Despite their shaky start to the second half, the Romanians organized two dangerous attacks that ended with threatening shots. In the 60th minute, Razvan Marin’s long-range effort drew a quality save from Martin Dubravka, followed by a powerful shot from Denis Dragoș that sailed over the bar.
Romania’s goalkeeper Florin Nita played superbly in the crucial clash for his country, making a number of important saves. In the 64th minute, a combination started on the right side of the pitch saw David Strelec control a clever pass around the edge of the penalty area and test the keeper’s reflexes with a brilliant shot.
In the end, neither team went all out for victory, preferring to settle for a draw.
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