![Iordanescu hails history-making Romania's march into Euros last 16](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/df/d0/1b/Iordanescu-hails-history-making-Rom-711885.jpg)
-
Missing Wimbledon would not have been 'correct', says Djokovic
-
Russell plans to 'sneak through' front two in Austria
-
Kohli leads the way as India set SA 177 to win
-
France's Bardet wins Tour de France opener as Cavendish suffers
-
Imperious Verstappen takes pole for Austrian Grand Prix
-
Top seed Fritz wins third Eastbourne ATP title
-
Bagnaia turns the heat up on MotoGP leader Martin
-
Cheers and prayers in India as T20 World Cup cricket final begins
-
Attacker with crossbow killed outside Israeli embassy in Belgrade, officer wounded
-
Haiti PM visits US, to meet with White House official
-
India win toss and bat in T20 World Cup final
-
Second-time lucky for Kasatkina as she wins Eastbourne WTA final
-
Heptathlon world champion Johnson-Thompson allays Olympic fitness worries
-
Zverev says 'most open Wimbledon in 20 years'
-
Sabalenka 'not 100%' certain for Wimbledon due to 'rare' injury
-
Fighting for third day in north Gaza as thousands displaced
-
'We have already won the Euros', says Georgia coach Sagnol
-
Manchester United's Earps latest to leave WSL club
-
Tense France goes to polls as far-right scents power
-
Mauvaka rewarded with Toulouse contract extension
-
Reformist to face ultraconservative in Iran presidency runoff
-
Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
-
Afghan women's rights an internal issue, Taliban govt says before UN-led talks
-
Pogacar favourite as Tour de France sets off from Florence
-
Clashes, arrests mark start of German far-right AfD congress
-
Five IS bombs found hidden in iconic Iraq mosque: UN agency
-
Mongolia ruling party wins reduced majority in vote dominated by graft
-
'Revolutionary' Dupont turns focus to Olympics after record Top 14 success
-
Panamanian court acquits 28 defendants in 'Panama Papers' trial
-
Fans pray for India's elusive world cricket trophy
-
Reformist, ultraconservative lead Iran presidential vote
-
Biden takes stage with Elton John to celebrate LGBTQ milestone
-
Legal weed limps into next phase in Germany
-
Vietnam economy expands 6.4 percent in first half of year
-
Thompson, Jackson win 100m titles at Jamaican Olympic trials
-
Holloway makes Olympics with 110 hurdles win as Lyles, Richardson roll on
-
Mauritania heads to polls with incumbent tipped to win
-
Planting giant cactus to stave off desertification in Brazil
-
Protests expected at German far-right AfD congress
-
Far right scents power as tense France ready for snap vote
-
Suspected leaders of failed Bolivian coup remanded in custody
-
Biden, Trump battle for blue-collar voters as steel merger looms
-
Biles one step closer to Paris with day one US gymnastics trials lead
-
Union says Boeing penny-pinching has hurt supply chain
-
US, allies condemn N.Korea for sanctions-busting arms sales to Russia
-
Colombia into Copa quarters after Costa Rica romp
-
England's Rai and USA's Bhatia share PGA Detroit lead
-
Danes shoot 60 to join five-way tie for LPGA pairs lead
-
Messi to miss Argentina-Peru Copa clash: team
-
Global stocks mixed as elections heat up
![Iordanescu hails history-making Romania's march into Euros last 16](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/df/d0/1b/Iordanescu-hails-history-making-Rom-711885.jpg)
Iordanescu hails history-making Romania's march into Euros last 16
Romania boss Edward Iordanescu said his side had made "history" after a 1-1 draw against Slovakia ended their 24-year wait to reach the last 16 at the European Championship.
Iordanescu's team finished top of Group E as Razvan Marin's penalty equaliser cancelled out Ondrej Duda's opener in Frankfurt.
With all four teams in the group earning four points from their three games, Romania ended top having scored more goals than second-placed Belgium.
Slovakia went through in third place thanks to a superior goal difference to fourth-placed Ukraine.
It was a memorable moment for Romania, who are into the knockout stages of the Euros for the first time since 2000.
Romania had only qualified once for the last 16 in their five Euro appearances, but Iordanescu's tenacious side have ended that long drought.
"I believed in the players from the very beginning. We have potential and personality. We have found the spirit that we must never lose," he said.
"I don't know what we can do in the future but we are very pleased to have reached the next stage. We want to go as far as we can.
"We were losing again but we came back with intelligence, heart and balance. We have written history. This is the generation of soul. It is a fantastic generation."
The emotional Iordanescu hit back at the pundits who had claimed Romania and Slovakia would deliberately play out a mutually beneficial draw.
"Some people should apologise to us. Both teams gave everything. Before the game people were throwing mud at the players and our dignity," he said.
"It was shameful. It was not nice. We showed we have character. Romania always fights with character. If we were going to lose we were going to go home with our dignity intact."
Iordanescu also paid tribute to Romania's vociferous fans after they packed most of the stadium and turned it into a yellow cauldron.
"These are moments you only experience once in a lifetime. The Romania team has never had such support, not even our golden generation," he said.
"Virtually the whole stadium was yellow. Thank you to everyone here and everyone at home in Romania. I'm sure they are all celebrating and will be proud."
L.Torres--PC