Soccer-Iordanescu hails Romania's 'generation of soul' after Ukraine win
Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Group E - Romania v Ukraine - Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany - June 17, 2024 Romania coach Edward Iordanescu REUTERS/Michaela Stache
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Romania coach Edward Iordanescu beamed with pride as he gave his side credit for their tireless running in a comprehensive 3-0 win over Ukraine on Monday to get their Euro 2024 campaign off to a flying start.
Two strikes from distance by Nicolae Stanciu and Razvan Marin and a close-range effort from Denis Dragus gave Romania their second victory in 17 attempts at the European Championship in what was by far their most convincing performance.
Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Group E - Romania v Ukraine - Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany - June 17, 2024 Romania's Nicolae Stanciu reacts after Denis Dragus scores their third goal REUTERS/Michaela Stache
"It's incredible what they did, I think I felt those feelings for the first time - I lost control of myself. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for being with us," Iordanescu told reporters.
Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Group E - Romania v Ukraine - Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany - June 17, 2024 Romania's Razvan Marin in action with Ukraine's Illia Zabarnyi REUTERS/Leonhard Simon
Asked if this was the victory of a lifetime, the 46-year-old coach declined to compare his side to previous generations, saying the current crop of players occupied a space all their own.
"This is the generation of the soul - this team has put the biggest effort into everything ... such a big heart and such a soul as this team has? No-one has ever had that. This has to be the generation of soul for Romania," he added.
Coming into the game as underdogs with only one victory in their previous 16 Euro games, the Romanians fought like tigers form the first minute to the last.
"These lads have done so much - they ran until they fell over and I had to take them off. It was an incredible effort, and apart from the quality and the talent, they were very united and gave their all, and I'm very proud of them," Iordanescu said.
Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Group E - Romania v Ukraine - Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany - June 17, 2024 Romania's Radu Dragusin, Razvan Marin, Nicolae Stanciu and Andrei Ratiu celebrate after the match REUTERS/Michaela Stache
Ahead of Belgium's clash with Slovakia later on Monday, Romania top Group E and they play the Belgians on Saturday.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond)