June 26 – The permutations in Group E prior to kick-off were a mathematician’s dream. Belgium, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania all had a chance to finish in every position from 1st to 4th as they all entered play on three points.
Of the four countries, Ukraine was the most at risk as their goal difference was inferior, which technically allowed Slovakia and Romania to throw phantom punches and take no risks.
With more than 40,000 yellow-clad Romanians knowing that a place in the last 16 was all but secured they turned the Deutsche Bank Park into one huge yellow party. Romanian head coach, Edward Iordanescu said as much 24 hours before the match knowing that a draw would be a perfect result to send his country into the knockout rounds for the first time since Euro 2000.
With the spectre of the ‘Disgrace of Gijón’, hanging over the heads of both teams though, the effort levels in the opening ten minutes were highly impressive as the match crackled into life driven by two passionate sets of supporters.
In the 11th minute, the first real chance fell to Romania. Andrei Ratiu played a tidy one-two and curled his shot towards the top right-hand corner that Martin Dubravka pushed away but only as far as Ianis Hagi, son of the Romanian great Gheorghe, aka The Maradona of the Carpathians. Unfortunately, it wasn’t father-like son as the youngster blazed his effort over the bar.
Three minutes later another Romanian opportunity. A free-kick forty yards from goal and Razvan Marin instead of crossing went for the target, missing by inches. A statement of intent.
When Slovakian coach, Francesco Calzona, was asked about a draw in the pre-match conference he responded that he sends out his team to win every game. In the 24th minute, they would lead as Ondrej Duda found himself completely unmarked. The header into the far corner was perfection. Slovakia in 1st place, Romania, 4th and out!
The response from Romania was superb. First Andrei Ratiu tested Dubravka and then Hagi made up for an earlier miss.
Picking up the ball on the right-hand side of the pitch he drove towards the Slovakian box where David Hancko stuck out a leg in desperation. German referee Daniel Siebert signaled for a free-kick but VAR wasn’t sure, they wanted a look. Two minutes of agony for both supporters. The verdict was tight but contact was in the penalty area and Siebert pointed to the spot. Marin made no mistake pulverizing his penalty into the top left corner. Romania in 1st place, Slovakia 3rd but still going through.
With half-time rapidly approaching Romania launched one last counterattack after Juraj Kucka had been caught napping but Denis Dragus went for glory when Hagi was better placed.
After forty-five minutes we can safely say the ghosts of the ‘Disgrace of Gijón’ had been banished. Both teams have gone for it in a terrific half of football, pushed on by one of the loudest crowds to date who’ve reached over 110 decibels on occasion.
The second half began at an even more frantic pace than the first as neither side looked for the draw and automatic passage. Slovakia tested Florin Nita twice in the space of two minutes. First through a miskicked cross from Hancko and then Lukas Haraslin
In the 60th minute the heavens opened, biblical thunder rolled down from the skies and the atmosphere inside the stadium went completely to a stratospheric level. The playing surface slicked up and the tackles started flying in. The pace was unrelenting. No quarter was asked or given.
In the 64th minute two more big Slovakian chances as David Strelec fired low to the near post which Nita saved with a trailing leg and then Haraslin bent a beautiful shot just wide of the far post.
As the rain tapered off the action began to slow. Both teams were getting signals from their respective benches. It was still 0-0 in the other game. They were both safe. It would be churlish to say the last ten minutes were poor after the riches of the previous eighty minutes because both teams still put forth effort, however, you could feel and see thoughts drift to the last 16.
The final whistle was greeted with rapture from all around the stadium and the celebration of all concerned was something extraordinarily special to witness. The big screen showed the Group table. Romania 1st, Belgium 2nd and Slovakia in 3rd.
50,000 supporters and both the playing and coaching staff began bouncing in unison. This was not the ‘Disgrace of Gijón’ – this was football, this was the beautiful game in all its glory.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1732614807labto1732614807ofdlr1732614807owedi1732614807sni@o1732614807fni1732614807