OPINION ​​Romania Under 21 ends Euro 2019 run in semifinals with 4-2 loss against Germany: tears that may precede smiles

Romania Under 21 concluded its splendid run at Euro 2019 in the semifinals match against Germany – in itself an Utopian dream just weeks before. Germany proved stronger eventually, defeating Romania 4-2, and its now up to all those involved with the football phenomenon to integrate the young boys so that the Romania’s national to be a real deal.

Why was the Euro 2019 run for Under 21 so important to Romania, a country where football has fallen in results and public interest massively for more than a decade:

• In normal circumstances, this would have been an European Under 21 tour that would have gone unnoticed in Romania

• In normal circumstances, we would have learned about the victor in the „also in the news” sections

• In normal circumstances, we wouldn’t have known that the Under 21 rule in Romania’s 1st League really works, should there not be this remarkable generation

• In normal circumstances, in no team sports would Romania to hope in matches against Germany

• In normal circumstances, by this time of the year we would only comment or criticise the evolution of famed tennis player Simona Halep

• In normal circumstances, with the infrastructure in place in Romania, one cannot hope for results at this level

• In normal circumstances, without legend Gica Hagi’s madness to have a Football Academy, Romania wouldn’t have reached this stage

• In normal circumstances, in the wake of a defeat Romanian players would have complained about heat, referees, wind or anything else. This generation carried their story in a dignified manner to the end

• In normal circumstances, we should be glad Romania won the respect of the strong ones when it comes to football and that we would play in Olympic Games after 60 years.

• In normal circumstances we should know how to integrate these wonderful boys so that Romania’s main national team return to the relevant circuit.

• In normal circumstances, we should thank these boys for the summer nights that somehow reminisced of the Coppa del Mondo 1990 and the World Cup 1994.