FRANKFURT, Germany — Slovakia and Romania meet in Frankfurt on Wednesday knowing victory will secure a place in the last-16 of Euro 2024, but in the tightest of pools, a draw could send both teams through.
Group E is on a knife-edge, with all four teams on three points, though Romania (+1 goal-difference) sit on top on goals scored from Belgium (also +1), followed by Slovakia (+0) and Ukraine (-2).
Romania will advance in the top two if they avoid defeat, while victories for Belgium over Ukraine and Slovakia will leave the Romanians sweating on advancing as one of the best third-place finishers.
A draw in Frankfurt would give both teams an excellent chance of going through, but Romania forward Valentin Mihaila rejected suggestions that both teams might settle for a point from the start.
“You can’t go into a match mentally as a player, as a team, with the thought of drawing,” he said according to Reuters.
“If it is 0-0 in the 91st minute and the tied score qualifies us both, yes … but I don’t want to do calculations.
“We have to go in with the mindset of winning the game and I think we can do that.”
Romania coach Edward Iordanescu could select the same XI that lost 2-0 to Belgium in their second pool game, though whether Mihaila starts ahead of Florinel Coman is a matter for debate. Coman got the nod in the opening 3-0 win over Ukraine.
Slovakia impressed in a surprise 1-0 win over pool favourites Belgium in their opening game, but let a lead slip to lose 2-1 to Ukraine in their second with shades of Euro 2020.
On that occasion they beat Poland 1-0, lost to Sweden by the same scoreline in their second fixture, and when they were routed 5-0 by Spain in their final match, finished third in the pool with three points and did not advance to the last-16.
Ukraine, with three points and a -1 goal-difference, did finish as one of the best third-placed teams.
“We are happy that we managed the first match, but not happy that we did not manage the next one,” Slovakia midfielder Juraj Kucka said of their current campaign.
“We want to win every match and now we know that we have to improve and change something.
“We are reminded of it (Euro 2020) but I don’t want to think about it. This is a different tournament, a different team and a different coach (Francesco Calzona),” he added.
Youri Tielemans breathed new life into Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign as the Aston Villa midfielder’s goal after just 73 seconds inspired a vital 2-0 win against Romania on Saturday.
Domenico Tedesco’s side would have been on the brink of elimination if they had suffered a second successive Group E defeat.
But Tielemans’ second-minute strike in Cologne eased fears of yet another major tournament flop from star-studded Belgium.
Kevin De Bruyne wrapped up the points in the closing stages to leave all four teams in the group level on three points.
Romania, ranked in 47th place, competed gamely as they chased their own shock, but this time Belgium’s superior class proved decisive.
“I have the same feeling as against Slovakia: we played well but the difference is that we scored and won today,” said Belgium captain De Bruyne.
“We made a few mistakes and gave away a few chances, but we can be satisfied with our performance, both offensively and defensively.”
Having bowed out at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup and lost in the quarter-finals of the last two Euros, Belgium’s golden generation have given themselves fresh hope of finally delivering on their vast potential.
Romania had powered to a 3-0 win against Ukraine on Monday — their first victory in a major tournament since beating England at Euro 2000.
Today’s fixtures
Slovakia vs Romania
Ukraine vs Belgium
Czech Republic vs Turkey
Georgia vs Portugal
