Romania manager Edward Iordanescu has demanded for an apology from "shameful" fans and pundits who have claimed that their final Group E match would be a "fix".
For the first time in European Championship history, all four nations within the same group finished on the same points, as Group E quartet Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine picked up four points each from their three games.
Romania faced Slovakia in their final group game on Wednesday and both teams knew that a draw would be enough for them to qualify for the last 16.
The Sun reported prior to kickoff that fans are preparing for a Euro 2024 'fix' as a draw suited both teams, while former Romania international Danut Lupu claimed that a draw has been "arranged" between the two nations.
Lupu, a 14-cap midfielder in his playing days, told AS.Ro: "We will qualify, draw with Slovakia. It's arranged, it would be a shame if we both didn't go. Why risk it? Would be a shame!
"At that level the players get along very well! Why risk it? Why get in an accident?"
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Iordanescu slams "garbage" group-stage fix comments
Although many had correctly predicted a draw as the most likely outcome, both Romania and Slovakia played out an end-to-end contest at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, showing no signs of playing for only a share of the spoils.
Ondrej Duda headed Slovakia into a 24th-minute leader, before Romania restored parity 13 minutes later when Razvan Marin emphatically converted from the penalty spot after Ianis Hagi was brought down in the area by David Hancko.
The draw for Romania was enough for them to top Group E, finishing just above second-placed Belgium who were held to a goalless draw by Ukraine - now eliminated from the tournament - while Slovakia have secured one of the four best third-placed spot on offer to advance to the last 16.
Iordanescu was delighted to see his Romania side qualify for the knockout rounds, but vented his frustration at the accusations of a group-stage fix.
Speaking at a press conference after the match, Iordanescu said: "There is some people that should apologise to us. They should have waited to see and then judge us. So this was shameful.
"They throw this garbage to us, not just the team but to our fans. We showed we have character."
Romania will face Netherlands in a last-16 tie at the Allianz Arena next Tuesday, two days after Slovakia take on England in Gelsenkirchen.
Oliver Thomas
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