Romania started the Euro 2016 with a good performance against hosts France in the opening match but ended it with an embarrassing defeat against Albania, first-time participants in the competition, on Sunday evening, June 19.

Albania were determined to score their first win ever at a European Championship and this showed on the pitch. They played a simple, but physical game, one that Romania couldn’t handle. Armando Sadiku scored for Albania in the 43rd minute of the first half, after a goalkeeper error. They defended the result until the end while Romania couldn’t find any solutions to seriously challenge the Albanian goalkeeper.

Thus, the match ended 1-0 for Albania, this being their first win at a major tournament.

Victory was the Romanian team’s only hope to pass the group stage and continue playing at Euro 2016. With only 1 point in the group A ranking, Romania goes home.

Romania thus finished last in group A, with just one point that it got from the deuce against Switzerland (1-1) and having scored only 2 goals, both from penalty shots. This makes it one of the weakest teams at Euro 2016.

Meanwhile, Albania got three points and still hopes to make it to the last 16, depending on the results in the other groups. France and Switzerland secured the first two sports after a deuce (0-0) in their direct match on Sunday, June 19.

France ranks first in the group A ranking with 7 points, followed by Switzerland with 5 points, Albania with 3 points, and Romania with only 1 point.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: UEFA Euro on Facebook)