After failing to qualify last time round, Romania’s participation was impressively achieved with an unbeaten run of six wins and four draws.
They certainly head into the tournament full of confidence, topping their group by five points ahead of runners-up Switzerland. They will be hoping to repeat their heroics of EURO 2000, where they progressed from a group containing Portugal, England and Germany before being knocked out by Italy in the quarter-finals.
Tournament Record
1960-1980: Did not qualify
1984: group stage
1988,1992: did not qualify
1996: group stage
2000: Quarterfinals
2004: Did not qualify
2008: group stage
2012: did not qualify
2016: group stage
2020: did not qualify
Star players:
Romania are not brimming with household names though pony-tailed defender Radu Dragusin, who made a high-profile move from Genoa to Tottenham Hotspur in mid-season, will be out to enhance his standing.
Son of Romanian football legend Gheorghe Hagi, Ianis Hagi will be hoping to write his own script but has had precious little game time on loan at Deportivo Alaves in Spain. Watch out too for skipper Nicolae Stanciu, the attacking midfielder having netted 14 goals during his international career to date.
Manager:
Edward Iordănescu
Son of former national coach Anghel Iordanescu,Edward took charge in January 2022, with a reputation as a highly studious coach and has galvanised the side, guiding them to their fifth EURO finals.
What to expect:
Romania have got lost time to make up for, having failed to qualify for the last tournament despite matches being hosted in their capital city of Bucharest as part of the pan-European Euros. There is a genuine belief that the Tricolours’ class of 2024 can create some stories of their own with a favourable-looking group containing Belgium, Ukraine and Slovakia
Schedule:
Ukraine (Munich, 17 June, 15:00)
Belgium (Cologne, 22 June, 21:00)
Slovakia (Frankfurt, 26 June, 18:00)