Romania bowed out of the EURO 2024 on Tuesday night after a decisive 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands who put on their best performance of the championships to earn their place in the quarter finals.
But one of the surprises of the tournament was a newly sparkling and determined Romania which finished top of its group, not only reaching the knockout stage but putting up a gutsy fight in its last match.
“This is not the golden generation, but a generation with a heart,” coach Edi Iordanescunu said referring to Romania’s golden age of footballing talent of the mid-90s. “The team gave it their all and will inspire generations to come.. with its talent and potential,” he told German outlet FAZ.
Ed Iordanescu’s team and fans earned praise for their performance in Romania and abroad.
“Everyone I spoke to before the Euro2024 started said ’it’s great we qualified, if we can just pick up a couple of points that would be great’ And actually Romania’s played really well, ” UK Ambassador Giles Portman told Universul.net.
“The team have done Romania proud,” said Danny Murphy an ex-Liverpool player and former England international commenting on the match. The BBC called the Romanian fans a credit to the nation.
One of the highlights of the tournament has been the Fanzone in Bucharest’s historic Revolution Square, where thousands dressed in yellow shirts and waving flags have gathered to cheer on their team even during Tuesday night’s thunderstorm.
Universul.net is offering readers some pictures from the match at the Fußball Arena München and from the Fanzone and bars near the area which were screening the match.
