Romania clinched the top spot in Group E alongside Slovakia after a 1-1 draw in Frankfurt, advancing both teams to the round of 16 at Euro 2024.
Slovakia took the lead in the 24th minute with Ondrej Duda's header from a precise cross by Juraj Kucka. Romania responded before halftime as Razvan Marin converted a penalty with a powerful strike into the top corner following a foul on Ianis Hagi.
Finishing atop the group, Romania secured their first berth in the knockout stages of the European Championship since 2000. Belgium, who drew with Ukraine, secured second place in the group, while Ukraine was eliminated.
Slovakia progressed as one of the best third-placed teams and await their opponent, likely to be determined after the final Group F fixtures.
This historic group stage concluded with all four teams finishing level on points for the first time in Euro history. Romania's progress marks a significant achievement for manager Edward Iordanescu, who expressed his confidence in the team's potential and resilience.
"We believed in the players from the beginning. We demonstrated spirit and determination to come back from behind. This achievement is historic for Romanian football," said Iordanescu.
The match concluded in a jubilant atmosphere for both sets of fans, celebrating their teams' continuation in the tournament.
