Romania Clinches Euro Qualifiers 2024 with 2-1 Victory Against Israel

The son of Romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi, Ianis, scored the winning goal vs Israel. (Credit: Twitter)Romania, which had missed out on the 2020 edition despite being one of the hosts, qualified for Euro 2024 with the win. Israel lost 2-1 to Romania on Saturday in an emotionally charged European Championship qualifying game it hosted in Hungary because of the war with Hamas. The games were relocated to Hungary after all matches were canceled in Israel following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Israel tied Switzerland 1-1 in its first game in Hungary on Wednesday. As supporters of the Israeli team arrived at the stadium on Saturday, many chanted slogans and draped Israeli flags over their shoulders. The war was triggered by Hamas’ attack in southern Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted some 240 men, women and children. Eran Zahavi put Israel ahead with a header two minutes into the match. The visitors rallied with goals by George Pușcaș in the 10th and Ianis Hagi in the 63rd. Romania’s Valentin Mihăilă was sent off in the 85th for a sliding tackle on Israel’s Dor Turgeman. Israel needed a win to keep alive its chances of automatically qualifying for next year’s tournament in Germany. Israel stayed third with 12 points from nine matches, five points behind second-place Switzerland and seven behind leader Romania. Israel next visit Andorra on Tuesday to finish its qualifying campaign.