Thursday, September 19, 2024

Slovakia vs Romania: UEFA Euro 2024 – BBC Sport

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Romania head coach Edward Iordanescu says it is important to beat Slovakia and win Group E to give themselves more of an advantage in the knockout stages.

Iordanescu’s side sit top of the group before Wednesday’s match in Frankfurt, but it is still all to play for because all four teams are on the three points after two games.

It is the first time in the competition’s history that this has happened.

“We want to win the group,” Iordanescu said. “If we win the group at least theoretically you have a certain advantage, especially in terms of extra rest days and also of the opponents.

“But the most important thing is to qualify, this is what our objective is.”

Romania have only qualified once for the last 16 in their five Euro appearances and that was in 2000.

A win for any team on Wednesday would earn them a place in the last 16, while a point would be enough for Belgium, Romania and Slovakia to all progress.

Belgium play Ukraine at the same time (20:00 BST) in the other Group E game.

Should Belgium beat Ukraine, and Romania and Slovakia draw, then the Romanians will finish second on goal difference.

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