Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Romaniavs.Netherlands

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 June 2024, 10:00
Euro 2024 surprise package Romania seek to pull off another surprise German scalp in Munich on Tuesday night, when they pit their wits against the Netherlands in the last 16.

Edward Iordanescu's men topped an extremely tight Group E to earn a date with the Dutch, who were condemned to an unexpected third-placed finish in Group D.

Match preview

Had one been told before the tournament that one of Romania and Netherlands would top their groups while the other sneaked through in third place, few eyelids should have been batted, but the order of the Allianz Arena competitors was the opposite of what was initially expected.

For the very first time in the history of the men's European Championships, all four teams in one section accumulated the same number of points, as Romania, Ukraine, Belgium and Slovakia all won one, drew one and lost one of their affairs to put four on the board.

However, thanks to their astounding three-goal success over Ukraine and score draw with Slovakia on the final day - where Razvan Marin struck his second goal of the tournament from the penalty spot - Romania's superior goals scored tally saw the Tricolours emerge victorious from the section.

In doing so, Romania ended a 24-year exile from the knockout stages of major tournaments, having last progressed beyond the group stage of a European Championships in 2000 before falling at the first hurdle in the 2008 and 2016 editions.

The Tricolours did not need to traverse a last-16 battle that year, though - instead going straight through to the quarter-finals and falling to Italy's superiority - but they suffered defeat at this stage in the 1934, 1938, 1990 and 1998 World Cups, so history is firmly against them.

Triumphing in just one of their last seven games in all tournaments does not provide Romania with much scope for optimism either, but the Tricolours' upcoming foes have not hit the heights expected of them in Germany thus far, underlined by their third-place saving grace.

After relying on Wout Weghorst - literally the big man up top - to complete their comeback against Poland, Ronald Koeman's side were left to rue Xavi Simons's controversially disallowed goal in their scoreless stalemate with France before coming out on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline versus Austria on June 25.

Twice Oranje fell behind to Ralf Rangnick's side, and twice they pegged Das Team back, but an 80th-minute Marcel Sabitzer strike ensured that Austria would unexpectedly top Group D, demote France to second place and leave Koeman's men to qualify as the best bronze medallists.

However, the Dutch should no doubt reflect on the positives of avoiding being in the same knockout section as Belgium, Spain, Germany and Portugal in the knockout rounds, and with Italy now clearing out their lockers, the Netherlands are the only team left in their eight-nation path to have won the men's European Championship.

Furthermore, Oranje have been subjected to defeat in just one of their previous 13 ties with Romania - going down 1-0 in a Euro 2008 qualifier - but they rectified those errors with a 2-0 triumph in the finals that year, in what remains their sole major tournament battle to date.

Romania European Championship form:

W

L

D

Romania form (all competitions):

L

D

D

W

L

D

Netherlands European Championship form:

W

D

L

Netherlands form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

D

L

Team News

An unwanted defensive alteration must be made by Romania boss Iordanescu, who has lost left-back Nicusor Bancu to an accumulation of yellow cards; the 31-year-old was cautioned for the second time in the group stage against Slovakia.

Right-back Vasile Mogos and Deian Sorescu - who is more comfortable in an attacking role - are considered the two main contenders to replace Bancu, and the former could be given the nod owing to his defensive nous, thereby shifting Andrei Ratiu out to the left.

On a brighter note, two-goal man Marin has been training fully after a brief period on the sidelines due to overload, and Iordanescu has the best kind of attacking dilemma, where Ianis Hagi, Dennis Man, Florinel Coman and Valentin Mihaila are all battling for two spots either side of Denis Dragus.

In contrast, every Dutch troop should be available for selection in Munich, but a tactical change is expected in midfield, after Joey Veerman was sacrificed after just 35 minutes of the final group loss to Austria.

The PSV Eindhoven man - who cut a crestfallen figure on the bench - will surely drop out for returning star Simons, whose recall will push Tijjani Reijnders into a deeper role alongside Jerdy Schouten, who will miss any quarter-final if he is cautioned on Tuesday.

In-demand Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee is now training fully once more following a brief illness, but having broken his Euros duck last time out, Memphis Depay's spot in attack is surely safe as the 46-goal man chases down Robin van Persie's men's record of 50.

Romania possible starting lineup:

Nita; Mogos, Dragusin, Burca, Ratiu; R. Marin, S. Marin, Stanciu; Hagi, Dragus, Coman

Netherlands possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Reijnders, Schouten; Frimpong, Simons, Gakpo; Depay

We say: Romania 0-2 Netherlands

With all due respect to Romania, their dampening loss to an otherwise disappointing Belgium side showed that the big boys can still expose their frailties, and they had two goalkeeping errors to thank for their opening success over Ukraine.

Previews by email

Top News

13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Just over 24 hours after taking over as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has reportedly already been handed his first injury blow. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iraq will welcome Jordan to the Basra International Stadium for Thursday's meeting in the Asian section of 2026 World Cup qualifying. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The action resumes in Group L of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as Burundi and Malawi go head to head at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted his target of reaching 1,000 career goals may be beyond him, as his career begins to wind down, raising questions about whether he could retire in the near future. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Insiders from Premier League clubs have reportedly blamed Thomas Tuchel and the FA for the huge spike in injury withdrawals from the upcoming England squad this month. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liechtenstein will travel to the Ta' Qali National Stadium on Thursday to take on Malta in an international friendly. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi is set to captain Argentina when they travel to Asuncion to face Paraguay in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Thursday night. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Journalist and Arsenal expert Charles Watts cannot see a way back for Premier League referee David Coote if the alleged unverified video of him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp is genuine. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has dropped a hint about his future at the club, with contract talks said to be ongoing between the two parties. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's new manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly been handed an early transfer blow, with Bayern Munich stating that Leroy Sane is not for sale this January. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus with the view of signing the player next summer. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Manchester City enter November's international break in the 2024-25 campaign sitting five points adrift of early leaders Liverpool after 11 matches played. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they have entered the international break on the back of losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time since 2006 and for the first time ever under manager Pep Guardiola. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are not expected to respond to the emergence of an apparently damning video of Premier League referee David Coote in which the official made insulting and derisive comments regarding former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp until the PGMOL complete their investigation into the incident. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will have goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez available for selection again when they face Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as a replacement for Ederson. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Villarreal head coach Marcelino has attempted to play down speculation linking the club with Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Goncalo Guedes. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group B table come together on Thursday afternoon when Kuwait host group-leaders South Korea. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nigeria will hope to secure their spot in the 2025 African Cup of Nations when they face Benin at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil will be without Real Madrid duo Rodrygo and Eder Militao for their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier away in Venezuela on Thursday after both suffered first-half injuries in the win over Osasuna on Saturday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to enter the market for a new centre-back during the January transfer window. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After a promising set of results in October, Brazil return to action in World Cup qualifying when they travel to Maturin to face Venezuela on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to close the gap on the top two places in Group A, Qatar will host second-placed Usbekistan at the Khalifa International Stadium for an AFC World Cup qualifying clash on Thursday afternoon. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal dropped two points rather than gaining one in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but there were signs of the "old" Gunners team in West London. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have been punished for failing to adequately replace their most "important player" Martin Odegaard when the Norwegian was out with an ankle injury, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After making a fine start to their latest UEFA Nations League campaign, just one more point would ensure Italy qualify for the quarter-finals on Thursday, when they visit Belgium in Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium's task will be perfectly clear on Thursday evening, as they must win to stay in contention for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals when welcoming Italy to Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified a Benfica defender as a potential transfer target for 2025. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to return to winning ways following difficult matches during the October international window, Armenia and the Faroe Islands will lock horns in Yerevan for a UEFA Nations League C clash on Thursday night.