Romania win Group E at Euro 2024 thanks to Wednesday’s draw in Frankfurt. Check out the best facts, stats and live Opta data with our Slovakia vs Romania stats page.

There may have been precious little separating the four teams in Group E at Euro 2024, as all finished on four points, but Wednesday’s 1-1 draw between Romania and Slovakia sparked scenes of joy among both sets of fans as the two teams reached the knockout stages. 

Having managed three points from their opening two games, just like Belgium and Ukraine, Romania and Slovakia knew a draw would send them through regardless of the other result. 

While not especially surprising that stalemate proved to be the outcome here, it can’t be said this was a dour encounter between teams who didn’t want to win. Both tried, both failed; and yet, in the grand scheme of things, both succeeded. 

Romania go through to the knockouts of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2000 having won the group mostly thanks to their 3-0 win over Ukraine, while Slovakia progress as one of the best third-placed teams. 

For all the pre-match talk of how a bore draw suited both teams due to it ensuring neither were sent home early, there were few signs of Slovakia or Romania opting to sit on what they had. 

Romania might have dominated in the stands, with the Frankfurt Arena a sea of yellow, but on the pitch it was far more even, and Slovakia arguably shaded an entertaining first half. 

With the classy Stanislav Lobotka effective both in and out of possession and Milan Skriniar displaying similar levels of composure at the back, Slovakia looked a little more refined than their Romanian counterparts, who went about their business with greater ferocity as they fed off the raucous atmosphere. 

While only the second game in Euros history to see four players aged 35 or over start, this wasn’t exactly played at the pace of a veterans’ match. The battle between Romania right-back Andrei Ratiu and Slovakia left-winger Lukáš Haraslín highlighted that as they enjoyed a real tussle. 

Initially though, Haraslín’s set-pieces looked to be Slovakia’s most likely route to goal, creating three chances in the first 22 minutes – none led to a goal, but the threat he posed was indicative of his team’s promising start, which did lead to them finding the net. 

Skriniar took charge during an intricate passing move at the back, sending a raking long ball from inside his own half towards the far corner flag. It found Peter Pekarik in space, and he subsequently pulled the ball back for Juraj Kucka, who’s brilliant first-time cross was headed home by Ondrej Duda.

Having also scored against Wales at Euro 2016, that ensured Duda became the first Slovakian to score at two major international tournaments. Meanwhile, Kucka’s delivery saw him record his first assist at a Euros/World Cup since the 2010 World Cup (vs Italy) – 14 years and two days later, to be precise. 

The old guard had come good for Slovakia, though a name from the past played a role in pegging them back. 

Well, sort of. If we go back far enough, we could probably say Romania great Georghe Hagi inspired the equaliser… His son, Ianis, earned a start after impressing off the bench last time out and he was the one to win the penalty, luring David Hancko into a clumsy challenge on the right edge of the box. Whether it should have been a free-kick or a penalty is debatable, though there was no uncertainty around the outcome.  

Razvan Marin emphatically slammed into the top-left corner from the spot, with that remarkably Romania’s third European Championship penalty goal since the start of Euro 2016, a tally no team can better despite this being only their sixth game in the competition in that time. 

The talented Hagi stood out for Romania. Blessed with significant technical ability and real craft, he offered a greater degree of composure in the final third than his colleagues, while he also worked hard off the ball – his five recoveries, four tackles and 12 duels were the most of any Romanian prior to his 66th-minute withdrawal. 

He departed soon after a flurry of activity at either end, having teed up Marin for a poked effort that Martin Dúbravka swatted away before Denis Dragus fired agonisingly over. David Strelec then forced Florin Nita into a vital save with his left foot at the other end, the Slovakian forward frustrated despite a lively showing up top. 

Otherwise, however, the final 30 minutes passed with little goalmouth action. Slovakia enjoyed 66.7% possession between minutes 75 and 90 yet did little with it, while Romania surpassed half an hour without a single attempt in the latter stages. 

Neither team needed to force the issue, though. The knockout stages were beckoning if nothing else happened, with both sides looking reluctant to go in search of a dramatic late winner, and who could blame them? 

The celebrations started before the final whistle even went. Romania won themselves a goal kick deep into stoppage time and the crowd roared. Then, as Nita’s kick sailed towards the middle of the pitch, the whistle went and both benches erupted in jubilation. 

The last 16 awaits for both, with their next opponents to be revealed later on Wednesday. While they’ll likely be seen as two of the weaker sides to make the knockouts, it’s fair to say getting that far is an achievement in itself. 

Whatever happens from here is surely a bonus for either. 

Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Slovakia vs Romania stats from their Euro 2024 Group E clash at Frankfurt Arena.

The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.

Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well. 

Slovakia vs Romania: Post-Match Facts

  •  For the first time in UEFA European Championship history, all four teams within a single group have finished on the same points.
  • Romania have progressed past the group stages of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2000, while Slovakia have now reached the knockout rounds in three of their four appearances at the World Cup/Euros.
  • Four of Romania’s last eight goals at the UEFA European Championship have come from the penalty spot. In fact, of all teams to score 5+ goals in Euros history, Romania have netted the highest share from the spot (29% – 4/14).
  • Răzvan Marin has scored two goals in his last three appearances for Romania in all competitions, as many as he had in his previous 54. He became just the second Romanian to score multiple goals at a single edition of the UEFA European Championship (2), along with Bogdan Stancu at Euro 2016 (2).
  • Ondrej Duda’s opener saw him become the first player to score for Slovakia at two different major international tournaments, also netting against Wales in Euro 2016.
  • Juraj Kucka’s assist for Ondrej Duda’s opener for Slovakia was his first assist at a major tournament in 14 years and 2 days (vs Italy at the 2010 World Cup). It’s the longest gap between assists at a World Cup/Euros on record for a European player.
  • Slovakia v Romania became the second match in UEFA European Championship history to see four players aged 35+ start (Pekarík, Kucka, Dúbravka for Slovakia, Nita for Romania), after Netherlands v France in Euro 2008.

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