Euro 2024: Romania and Slovakia meet in finely balanced Group E where a draw advances both

Tue, Jun 25, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Romania and Slovakia meet in the most finely balanced group at the European Championship. A draw on Wednesday would send both to the round of 16. The game on Wednesday kicks off in Frankfurt at 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT), at the same time as Belgium and Ukraine start in Stuttgart. Here's what to know about the match:

Match facts

- Any team in Group E can still finish in any position from first to last in the standings. It is the only group at Euro 2024 where each team won a game and lost a game in the first two rounds.

- One of Romania and Slovakia will be in the round of 16, and a draw will advance both. If so, Romania will be in the top two because of a superior goal difference to Slovakia. Slovakia would be third, and among the four best third-place teams advancing.

- "Biscotto" is the Italian word for biscuit that in soccer parlance means a game where two teams can contrive an outcome that suits them both. The most (in)famous example is West Germany's 1-0 win over Austria at the 1982 World Cup where both teams effectively stopped playing after the 11th-minute goal. The "Disgrace of Gijon" game sent both through and eliminated Algeria. It ensured that at future tournaments the last round of games in a group is played at the same time.

Team news

- Slovakia defender David Hancko had been a doubt because of a hamstring injury against Ukraine, though coach Francesco Calzona could name the same starting lineup for the third time.

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- Romania has no major injury concerns.

By the numbers

- Romania has lost 11 of its 18 games at Euros but never by more than 2-0. That record loss was matched in being beaten by Belgium on Saturday.

- The teams have not met in a competitive game for nearly 25 years, in a Euro 2000 qualifying group. A Romania team captained by Gheorghe Hagi won 5-1 in Slovakia.

- Slovakia forward Ivan Schranz is among the four players who have scored two goals at Euro 2024. The collective total of own goals was six through Monday.

What they're saying

- "We must play to win. We will not be thinking that a draw could help us." - Romania coach Edward Iordanescu.

- "We are the Cinderella story of the group stage." - Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona.

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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

GRAHAM DUNBAR Dunbar is an Associated Press sports news reporter in Geneva, Switzerland. He focuses on the governing bodies, institutions and politics of international sports. "