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The Romanian national football team clinched the top spot in Group I of the EURO 2024 qualifiers by defeating Switzerland 1-0 on Tuesday night at the National Arena in Bucharest.
The winning goal was scored by Denis Alibec in the 50th minute. Romania, remaining undefeated in the group, will be placed in the second-tier draw for the European Championship group stage, scheduled for December 2.
Romania and Switzerland secured their places in EURO 2024 last Saturday, with Romania defeating Israel 2-1 in Felcsut (Hungary), and Switzerland drawing at home with Kosovo (1-1). The final tournament is set to take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024.
Romania will be making its sixth appearance in the European Championship final, having previously participated in the editions of 1984, 1996, 2000, 2008, and 2016.
Coach Edi Iordanescu said after the victory:
“It is boundless joy and a special feeling; this generation can grow. I have only one merit. I trusted the players.
There were not easy moments; I am not upset about criticisms; we move on. What matters is that we close a fabulous campaign without defeat. I have confidence in absolutely everyone.
For me, it was an enormous responsibility that I felt in front of these spectators. We need to analyze well what we did; when there were analyses and corrections, we developed. I built everything with my players.
The important thing is for the supporters to be with the national team. Romanians should be proud of their team. United, we are always stronger.”
Present at the match at the National Arena (he sat in the VIP box alongside Mircea Lucescu), Romanian football star Gheorghe Hagi drew conclusions after the qualifiers ended, and Romania secured qualification for Euro 2024.
“More than this couldn’t have been done. To finish undefeated and with a home victory. The pressure was greater in the match against Hungary. Now it was a game that had to be managed well. We are all happy; every Romanian was waiting for this qualification.
We go there to support them; there is a very good group. Edi (coach Edi Iordanescu) formed it; it’s his merit.”
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