Slovakia and Romania both secure spots in the Euro 2024 knockout round following a hard-fought draw in Frankfurt, with the final score being 1-1.

Austria’s confidence is sky-high as they head into the last 16 of Euro 2024, with defender Kevin Wimmer declaring that they are ready to face any opponent. The team is riding high on their recent performances and are determined to make a mark in the knockout stages.

In Group C, Slovakia and Romania battled it out in a 1-1 draw to secure their spots in the Round of 16. This was a historic moment as all four teams in the group were level on points heading into the final game.

Slovakia took the lead early on with a perfect cross from Peter Pekarik finding Ondrej Duda, who headed home unchallenged. However, Romania fought back and were awarded a controversial penalty just before half-time, which Razvan Marin converted with precision.

Both teams knew that a draw would be enough to see them through, so they started to ease off towards the end of the match. The final result, coupled with Belgium’s draw with Ukraine, meant that Romania topped the group and advanced to the next round. This is only the second time Romania has made it out of the group stage in the European Championship, with their previous success coming in 2000 at the expense of England.

Fortunately for Romania, they will not face the Three Lions in the last 16. Instead, they will go up against either the Netherlands or Slovenia. As for Slovakia, their third-place finish leaves them waiting to see if they will face Spain or England in the next round.

One of the talking points of Euro 2024 has been Romania’s surprising performance. Group E was expected to be dominated by Belgium, but Romania’s stunning victory against Ukraine and Belgium’s loss to Slovakia turned the group on its head. Facing an underdog like Romania, who have nothing to lose, can be a challenge for even the top sides. Romania will now be confident in their ability to go even further in the tournament.

The player of the match in the Slovakia vs Romania clash was Andrei Ratiu from Romania. He played a crucial role in withstanding Slovakia’s pressure in the first half and was also a threat going forward. Ratiu’s performance on the left flank, particularly against Lukas Haraslin, was impressive.

In terms of player ratings, both teams had some standout performers. Peter Pekarik and Ondrej Duda were key for Slovakia, while Razvan Marin and Andrei Ratiu shone for Romania.

The match highlights included Duda’s goal for Slovakia and Marin’s penalty for Romania. These moments showcased the intensity and drama of the game.

As the tournament progresses, Austria will be a team to watch out for. Their confidence is soaring, and they are ready to take on any opponent in the last 16. With the surprises and upsets we have already witnessed in Euro 2024, anything can happen in the knockout stages.