Romania kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign in style, dismantling Ukraine 3-0 in a dominant performance on Monday. This emphatic win marks Romania’s first victory in the European Championship in 24 years.
Captain Nicolae Stanciu ignited the Romanian attack with a stunning long-range strike in the 29th minute. The skipper unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that found the top corner, leaving the Ukrainian goalkeeper with no chance.
Razvan Marin doubled Romania’s lead in the 53rd minute, further dampening Ukrainian spirits. Just four minutes later, Denis Dragus added another goal to effectively seal the win for Romania.
This victory puts Romania at the top of Group E with a perfect three points. It also holds immense historical significance, as it marks their first win in the Euros since 2000. Back then, Romania defeated England 3-2 in the group stage, but their journey ended in the knockout stage against Italy.
Monday’s match also carried the weight of the ongoing war in Ukraine. This marks the first appearance for the Ukrainian team in a major tournament since the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. Last week, Ukrainian forward Mykhailo Mudryk revealed the emotional toll the conflict has taken, sharing that his family back home in Krasnograd faces the threat of Russian missiles daily.
