Romania and Slovakia into Euro 2024 knockout stage after draw (2024)

• Switzerland v Italy
• Germany v Denmark
• England v Slovakia/Netherlands
• Spain v Slovakia/Czech Republic/Turkey/Georgia
• France v Belgium
• Portugal v Hungary/Slovenia
• Romania v Slovenia/Netherlands
• Austria v Czech Republic/Turkey/Georgia

• Romania Pts4 GD+2
• Belgium Pts4 GD+1
• Slovakia Pts4 GD0
• Ukraine Pts4 GD-2

By Tom Morgan in Frankfurt

The sudden outbreak of torrential rain is now clearing up a bit - but the ball is really holding up on the sodden pitch. Significantly reduces the likelihood of a goal-laden finish to this match as both sides are exerting more caution. Match finely balanced.

It’s still goalless in the other game, which means Ukraine are going out as things stand. Should that happen, they can have no complaints about this match so far. Both teams are still trying to land punches, even if they are covering up.

The rainfall in the last 10 minutes has been so heavy that the ball is already starting to hold up.

As Dion Dublin notes on the BBC coverage, this rain won’t do much for an already inadequate Frankfurt pitch.

Haraslin - sign him up, somebody - cuts inside from the left and flashes a curling shot just wide of the far post. He might have been offside, looking at the replay, but it was a lovely effort. He looks a superb player.

The thunderstorm has arrived, and Romania almost take the lead on a couple of occasions. First Razvan Marin’s no-backlift shot from the edge of the area is pushed away by the diving Dubravka, then Dragus arrows a thrilling drive that just clears the crossbar and hits the back stanchion.

It is pelting down now. Biblical rain.

An almighty bang leads to a big cheer from the supporters. It sounded like a thunderclap but apparently it may have been a flare.

Romania make their first substitution, bring on Deian Sorescu for Florinel Coman.

The second half gets underway in Frankfurt, where sunshine has turned to rain. Apparently a thunderstorm is imminent.

A reminder that a draw will guarantee qualification for both sides, so the tempo of the second half may not match the first. No judgement here.

A draw is enough for both teams, and that’s the state of play in Frankfurt. But this has been less of a carve-up and more of a tear-up, a genuinely exciting first half played with an intensity that belied the 30-degree heat.

Ondrej Duda put Slovakia ahead with a superb header, then Razvan Marin equalised with a majestic penalty. As things stand Romania will win the group, Belgium will play France in the last 16 and England’s opponents will be either the Netherlands or Slovakia.

By Tom Morgan in Frankfurt

Credit where it’s due to VAR. Foul was right on line of penalty area - that didn’t look to be the case with naked eye. The review was carried out pretty sharpish too.

By Tom Morgan in Frankfurt

Slovakia deservedly in front. Romania repeatedly failing to stop crosses and giving away cheap free kicks and corners. Duda, the goalscorer, has spent time in English football, having been loaned to Norwich City during the 2019–20 season.

By Tom Morgan in Frankfurt

Despite temperatures tipping 30C at Frankfurt Arena, both Slovakia and Romania are getting their opportunities - which is heartening to see given a dour stalemate would send both nations through. Slovakia have yet to beat Romania in eight previous attempts but have looked marginally more effective in possession. Big day for Ianis Hagi, son of the great Romanian playmaker Gheorghe, making his major tournament debut - but he has yet to get a foothold in the game.

In such stifling heat, however, it will be no surprise if both teams start to take foot off gas. All four teams in Group E are level on three points - if there are two draws this afternoon, Ukraine go out because of their minus-two goal difference.

A quick throw on the left finds Hasalin (I think), who booms a dangerous cross towards the far post that is headed behind for the first corner.

Hasalin’s outswinging corner is met by Kucka, but he sees the ball late and heads it into the ground rather than straight at goal. The ball bounces into the arms of Nita.

It looks really warm in Frankfurt. These are the men who will be running around in the heat any second now.

Slovakia (4-3-3) Dubravka; Pekarík, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Lobotka, Kucka, Duda; Schranz, Strelec, Haraslin.

Romania (4-1-4-1) Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; M Marin, Hagi, R Marin, Stanciu, Coman; Dragus.

One change for Slovakia: David Strelec replaces Robert Bozenik in attack.

Slovakia (4-3-3) Dubravka; Pekarík, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Lobotka, Kucka, Duda; Schranz, Strelec, Haraslin.

These are the permutations in Group E, taken from the official Uefa site. Essentially Romania and Slovakia need a draw to be certain of qualification. They could go through if they lose, depending on the result of Ukraine v Belgium.

Romania will be through to the round of 16, in the top two, if they avoid defeat by Slovakia. Romania will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose and Ukraine avoid defeat.

Slovakia will be through to the round of 16, at least as a best third-placed team, if they avoid defeat by Romania. Slovakia will be unable to reach the round of 16 in fourth place if they lose and Belgium avoid defeat.

Ukraine will be through to the round of 16, in the top two, if they beat Belgium, or as a best third-placed team if they draw and the other game is not drawn. Ukraine will be unable to reach the round of 16 in fourth place if they lose and Slovakia avoid defeat, or if both games are drawn.

In the event that both games are drawn, the four teams will finish equal on four points. The following scenarios would then come into play:

A) If the two draws have the same scoreline, or if Belgium vs Ukraine is a draw with fewer goals than Slovakia vs Romania, the group ranking would be based on goal difference and goals scored and would be:

1) Romania
2) Belgium
3) Slovakia
4) Ukraine

B: If the two draws have different scorelines, the following scenarios are anticipated:

If Belgium vs Ukraine ends 1-1 and Slovakia vs Romania ends 0-0, or any pair of results where Belgium score exactly one more goal than Romania in their draw, Belgium and Romania would occupy the first two positions in the group but would be equal on goal difference and goals scored. In that case, as per article 20.01d of the official competition regulations, the head-to-head criteria is reapplied exclusively to those two teams, which would mean Belgium ahead of Romania as they won their direct match. Slovakia would be third and Ukraine fourth on goal difference.

In all other scenarios, Romania and Belgium would occupy the top two spots in the group, split on goals scored. Belgium will win the group if they score two (or more) goals more than Romania in their draw; Romania would win the group if they score more goals than Belgium in their draw. Slovakia would finish ahead of Ukraine in third place based on goal difference.

By Theo Gardner

All tied on three points, with one win and one loss each, any of the four teams in Group E could progress through to the knockouts. Likewise, any of the sides could top the group, and any of them could crash out in fourth place. It’s likely to be a dramatic and nervous afternoon of football.

Romania are top of the group on goal difference, having put three past the Ukrainian defence in their opener. It was an emphatic start to the tournament for the Tricolorii, who scored three goals in a European Championship game for the first time since their famous win over England in 2000.

Their lightning start slowed in the second game of the tournament as they fell victim to a 2-0 loss against a strong Belgium side. They spent the whole game in an uphill battle after going 1-0 down just two minutes in courtesy of a strike from Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans.

Slovakia have not beat Romania since 1942. But they stunned Belgium in their opener, winning 1-0 after Ivan Schranz pounced on a defensive mistake just seven minutes in.

Schranz bagged early on again against Ukraine; however Francesco Clazona’s men would ultimately lose the fixture 2-1. They now sit third in the group with a goal difference of 0.

While supporting their side in Frankfurt, both sets of fans will have one eye on the Ukraine-Belgium fixture, happening at the same time in Stuttgart. With the group so delicately balanced, we could see factors such as goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head record and even fair play determine the group’s final standings.

For both teams tonight, a draw is enough to ensure a place in the last 16.

The winners of the group will book a fixture against a third-placed side, while the team that progresses in second place is faced with the daunting task of playing France in the next round.

“We are professionals,” said Slovakia’s Italian coach Francesco Calzona. “We know that the draw might help us to qualify for the last 16, but that doesn’t mean anything because we want to play our own match. “We deserve this opportunity to progress - nobody gave anything for free. We have played good football.”We hope we can win. If we will draw and this will allow us to progress, well then we will welcome that.”

Calzona’s opposite number, Edward Iordanescu, knows Romania will finish top of the group if they win and Belgium don’t beat Ukraine. “We want to win the group,” he said. “If you do that you at least theoretically have a certain advantage, especially in terms of extra rest days and also of the opponents [though it could well be the Netherlands]. But the most important thing is to qualify, this is our objective.”

The permutations are endless and also depend on the game between Ukraine and Belgium, which you can follow here with the great Rob Bagchi.

Both games kick off at 5pm.