Questioning our dignity was shameful, says Romania coach Edward Iordanescu

FRANKFURT – Suggestions that Romania and Slovakia would manipulate the draw that guaranteed both progressed to the Euro 2024 last 16 were shameful, Romania coach Edward Iordanescu said on June 26 after the 1-1 stalemate.

The complexities of Group E, in which all four teams were on three points after two matches, meant one point each would suffice whatever happened in the other game between Belgium and Ukraine.

Slovakia led with an Ondrej Duda header but Romania equalised through Razvan Marin’s penalty, and both had further chances in a match played partly in a thunderstorm.

But there were no more goals as Romania finished top with four points ahead of Belgium, who drew 0-0 with Ukraine – courtesy of scoring more goals in the group – while Slovakia advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.

It was the first time in 24 years that the Romanians have reached the European Championship knockout rounds. They will next take on the Netherlands, while the Slovaks face England.

Iordanescu spoke of his pride in the new generation, saying they had restored Romania’s spirit, but he was clearly agitated that anyone thought his side would play for a draw.

“I believe it was clear that both teams gave everything for 80 minutes,” he said. “To speak before a game and to throw mud to the teams and to the players and to our work and to our dignity is shameful.

“They should have waited and see and then judge us, so this was shameful, it was not nice. They threw this garbage to us but not just to us but to the team, to our fans and to everybody... if we were going to lose, we would have gone home with our dignity intact.”

Former Romania player Danut Lupu had stirred the pot by saying in an interview with the Romanian press that a draw had been arranged and there was no point risking a loss.

But the statistics did not suggest two sides not going for the win, with Slovakia having 13 goal attempts to Romania’s nine, nine of them on target in total. Iordanescu said only in the last 10 minutes did his team play to secure the draw.

Romania have impressed at the tournament, as have their passionate fans.

“Almost the whole stadium was yellow. And they (the fans) followed us at the train station, at the hotel, when we went on trips, training, when we got back to the hotel,” Iordanescu added.

“That’s absolutely incredible. And I really hope that this will continue.” REUTERS