Romania coach Edward Iordanescu says leading his side to the top of Group E is the experience of a lifetime.
Romania came from behind to draw 1-1 against Slovakia in Frankfurt which was enough to top the table ahead of Belgium, with Slovakia progressing in third place.
Romania level before the break… #EURO2024 | #SVKROU pic.twitter.com/bSQTLHCARi
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 26, 2024
Ondrej Duda’s fine downward header gave Slovakia the lead against the run of play on 24 minutes but Razvan Marin’s emphatic penalty, awarded by VAR, ensured the points were shared before the break infront of a partisan crowd decked in the yellow of Romania.
“These are things you experience once in a lifetime,” Iordanescu told uefa.com. “Thank you to all the fans, the ones who made us feel at home in three games, and those at home in Romania.
“I am proud to be Romanian. I think everyone is proud.”
Topping the group put them on the favourable half of the Euro 2024 draw with big-guns Germany, France, Spain and Portugal all on the opposite side.
Next up for Romania will be a last-16 encounter with Slovenia or the Netherlands and the coach admitted: “I don’t know how far we will go. We came back today, once again, we never give up.
“We always play with heart, intelligence, balance, and we gave everything to win the game.
“It’s (all been) incredible, I hope this continues. I want to congratulate my players, we found a spirit and don’t have to lose it again.”
Romania are in the knockout stages of a European Championships for just the second time.
