Romania’s head coach, Edward Iordanescu, was infuriated by accusations that his team might conspire to secure a draw with Slovakia to guarantee their progression to Euro 2024, Soccernet.football reports.
With all four teams tied on points going into the final matchday, a draw in Romania’s game would have guaranteed both Romania and Slovakia a place in the last 16, regardless of the outcome of Belgium’s match against Ukraine.
El Tricolorii eventually played out a 1-1 draw with Slovakia at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt to finish as surprise group winners after Belgium and Ukraine’s goalless draw at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.
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Speaking to reporters after the game, Iordanescu addressed the suggestions that his team would play for, or attempt to manipulate a draw, vehemently dismissing those claims.
“I believe it was clear that both teams gave everything for 80 minutes,” Lordanescu said. “Everybody gave their best.
“To speak before a game and to throw mud to the teams and to the players and to our work and to our dignity is shameful.
“They should have waited and seen and then judged us, so this was shameful, it was not nice. They threw this garbage to us but not just to us but to the team, to our fans and to everybody.
“We showed that we have character. Romania all the time fights with character and if we were going to lose and go home, we would have gone home but with our dignity intact.”
Romania have set a date with the Netherlands in the Round of 16 while Slovakia will lock horns with Gareth Southgate’s England. El Tricolorii boss Iordanescu is certain to have the full backing of the travelling Romanians again.
“Almost the whole stadium was yellow,” he added. “They were so close. They followed us at the train station, at the hotel, when we went on trips, training, when we got back to the hotel.
“That’s absolutely incredible. And I really hope that this will continue.”
