Slovakia and Romania draw to both reach Euro last 16
The group was on a knife-edge with all four teams beginning the final day on three points
Stuttgart — A 1-1 draw between Slovakia and Romania on Wednesday sent both sides into the last 16 of Euro 2024, with Romania topping the Group E standings and Slovakia through as one of the four best third-placed sides.
The group was on a knife-edge with all four teams beginning the final day on three points and though a draw would have been enough for both sides, the game was action-packed.
The sides went in level at the break after Ondrej Duda put Slovakia in front with a header from Juraj Kucka’s cross and Romania levelled with a penalty converted by Razvan Marin.
All four sides finished level on four points, but Romania finished top thanks to more goals scored than Belgium who were runners-up, ahead of Slovakia on the goal difference. Ukraine ended bottom because of a worse goal difference than Slovakia and exit the tournament.
Romania will face either Slovenia or the Netherlands in the last 16.
Belgium will face France after their goalless draw with Ukraine.
Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium dominated possession in the tight contest, though it was Serhiy Rebrov’s Ukraine that had more attempts on goal in the first half.
But the two teams cancelled each other out in the second period as Belgium clung on for a place in the knockout stage.
Reuters