EURO | Romania wants to repeat history. The Dutch must forget about the group

A historical moment. That’s how Romanian coach Edward Iordanescu called his team’s progress to the knockout phase of the European Championship. It happened after twenty-four long years and for the first time ever from the first place in the table. In the group stage, Romania met Ukraine, Slovakia and Belgium. Although they lost to the Red Devils, they finished ahead of them thanks to a better score.

For a Czech fan, there are two interesting names in the Romanian squad. Nicolae Stancia and Florina Nita need no introduction. Two former mainstays of Prague S are presenting excellent performances at the tournament. Above all, the offensive midfielder’s goal in the match against Ukraine was reminiscent of the offensive midfielder’s performance in Slavia.

Editing of the match Romania – UkraineVideo: Czech Television

In the FIFA rankings, Romania is forty places lower than the seventh-ranked Netherlands. Nevertheless, coach Iordanescu believes that his team will go on in the tournament.

“I think my team can do it. We must not make mistakes and be very well organized. Against such a quality opponent, it is necessary to perform almost perfectly,” he said before the round of 16 match. The 46-year-old coach would like to follow in the footsteps of his father Anghel, who led Romania to the quarter-finals of the 1996 World Cup in the United States.

But history clearly speaks in favor of the Dutch. In the last four matches against Romania, they always won convincingly and conceded only once.

The Oranjes enter the Round of 16 as paper favourites, but left a mixed impression in the group stage. Above all, the loss against Austria was a raised finger for coach Ronald Koeman.

“We have already played worse matches than against Austria. Of course we are a proud nation that likes to win and play good football. But it doesn’t always work out. Against Romania, we have a chance to prove the critics wrong and make the fans happy again,” said Koeman at the pre-match press conference.

Editing of the match Netherlands – AustriaVideo: Czech Television

The Dutch coach sees a major gap in his team’s communication and hopes that aspect of the game will improve against Romania.

“Our defenders have to talk to the midfielders better. With good communication, all possible problems can be solved well. The players must take that to heart,” added the coach of the Dutch.

The Oranjes last made it to the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship in 2008. At the last championship, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by the Czech Republic.

2024-07-02 14:34:42
#EURO #Romania #repeat #history #Dutch #forget #group