Romania vs Ukraine live updates (2024)

Ukraine head coach Serhiy Rebrov has given his rather curt assessment, after a horrible opening to their European Championship:

💬 “Unfortunately we lost, we will analyse it and talk with the players. But this is not the last game for us. I’m sure we made some mistakes and we lost in some components of the game, and that’s why we lost.

“I felt we started well. But we had some problems and unfortunately at the Euros, the teams have top players and we have to show our maximum if we want to get points here.

“Now we have to recover and prepare for the next game, which will be more serious than today.”

That next game is in Dusseldorf on Friday against Slovakia, who kick-off against Belgium shortly.

In fact, you can also follow Belgium vs Slovakia live with us at The Athletic, right here.

After a passive start, Nicolae Stanciu caught fire and so did Romania. Here are the full-time numbers…

FT: Romania 3-0 Ukraine

• Possession: 29% — 71%
• Shots: 9 — 13
• On target: 5 — 2
• XG: 1.10 — 0.55
• Blocked shots: 2 — 6
• Duels won: 37 — 42
• Dispossessed: 9 — 5

The possession figure never really changed after Ukraine’s early initiative. Romania were all about what they did with the ball when they had it, and if they sustain today’s levels of efficiency then they are going to make life difficult for a few teams at this championship.

So, Romania have returned to European Championship football in rip-roaring style with a historic victory over Ukraine in Munich.

Edward Iordanescu’s side failed to qualify for Euro 2020 and had only scored three goals in a Euros match once before — during their famous 3-2 win over England at Euro 2000.

But in Munich, they got their Euro 2024 campaign off to the perfect start courtesy of goals from Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus.

Grab the link below and check out Seb Stafford-Bloor and Mark Critchley analysing the main talking points from a statement Romania win.

Ah, this is great. Hagi has a megaphone and the whole Romanian team is sat in front of the supporters as Hagi leads the chanting.

Everyone is now jumping on their feet. What a fabulous sight and some serious collective energy right there.

I feel we were all rewarded for following that, with one of the goals of the tournament so far from Nicolae Stanciu and a special day for Romanian football.

That is the first time Romania have won any game at the Euros since beating England in 2000, which was their only time in the knockout stages.

They could well go onto match that feat in 2024, on this evidence.

90' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

A couple of Ukraine corners come and ago, one of them drifting just wide of the far post after Puscas’ attempted clearing header.

The sun has almost left the pitch now but fair play to Ukraine. They haven’t stopped trying.

Four minutes of added time left now.

88' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

Nicolae Stanciu hands the captain’s armband over to Razvan Marin and applauds the Romania fans — they’re all standing — as he makes way for Bogdan Racovitan.

What a brilliant start to this tournament from the Romania skipper. And what a wonderful goal to kick us off today.

84' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

That’s a great chance and a bad miss in truth.

Finally, Dovbyk appears with the ball. He’s had a really quiet second half.

He pops a slide-rule pass left for the on-running Mudryk, but he fires his left-footed shot high, wide and off-target.

Chelsea fans will be nodding at that one.

79' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

It’s been 79 minutes and we have a second yellow card, which goes to Marin for a hand-off on Mudryk. It’s possibly a little harsh but it’s done now.

As for the free-kick, Mudryk clips it into the box and Nita is able to claim at the far post.

77' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

Mudryk has been the liveliest running with the ball, but Georgiy Sudakov has also caused the odd problem.

He fires on goal from 25 yards and has Nita scrambling for a moment, before reclaiming the loose ball.

75' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

Dragusin is getting huge ovations for every challenge and clearance. Boy, do the Romanian fans love him.

As for the excellent Denis Dragus up front, he gets a well-earned rest as George Puscas comes on.

Adrian Rus is also on the pitch now, for Marius Marin.

71' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

The reaction has come from Ukraine since the changes. Yarmolenko has fired one effort over the bar and Sudakov sees his free-kick deflect off Dragusin.

The corner leads to little, leading to a fourth change for Ukraine.

Oleksandr Tymchyk is now on, replacing Konoplia.

63' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

As for Ukraine, they opt for the triple change.

Roman Yaremchuk, Volodymyr Brazhko and Andriy Yarmolenko, who directs fist-pumps at his team-mates on the pitch, race onto the pitch.

It’s Stepanenko, Tsygankov and Shaparenko who make way.

62' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

It’s two changes for Romania here.

They hand a rest to Man and Coman (sure there’s a punchline in that) — bringing on Ianis Hagi and Valentin Mihaila.

60' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

That’s two goals in four minutes early in the second half, and Romania look like they fancy adding more.

But we’re also about to get a lot of changes as we hit the hour mark.

57' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

There is an offside check but the goal stands. Denis Dragus gets it, firing into an empty net from Dennis Man’s centre after a short corner.

It’s a wonderfully worked short corner routine. But it is also dire defending from Ukraine.

57' Romania 3-0 Ukraine

It’s three! Oh my, this is dreamland for Romania.

53' Romania 2-0 Ukraine

Again it’s a right-footed first time hit from Razvan Marin. This time probably from 30 yards out and low.

It comes after a swift, composed break that has Ukraine scrambling to catch up.

But the real issue is goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who seems to dive over the shot rather than save it.

With the first — albeit stunning — goal also coming from his poor clearance, this is not the major tournament debut the Real Madrid stopper would’ve hoped for.

53' Romania 2-0 Ukraine

What a break! What a goal! Romania have their second through Razvan Marin from range.