David Barbu of Romania celebrates his goal in the UEFA U19 Championship match against Montenegro at Arcul de Triumf Stadium on June 13, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. (Photo by Harry Murphy – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Bodille Damen – AIPS Young Reporter – Netherlands

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BUCHAREST, June 13, 2025 – Romania made a dream start to their UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Montenegro in their opening fixture of the 2025 tournament in Bucharest, Romania on Friday.

David Barbu won’t forget this night anytime soon. In the 91st minute of Romania’s opening match at the UEFA Under-19 European Championship, with thousands of home fans behind him, he scored the winner against Montenegro. His most important goal so far. “I’m very happy to win and to score for this team,” Barbu told AIPS Media with a smile that hadn’t left his face since the final whistle.

MORE THAN A WINNING GOAL It was more than just a winning goal. It was a moment that symbolised pride, passion and personal inspiration. With thousands of fans erupting around him, Barbu marked it in a way that meant everything to him, by copying the iconic ‘SIU’ celebration of his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. “He’s a role model in life, not just in football. In my opinion, he’s the best. I follow him everywhere.”

The young forward’s finish completed a dramatic comeback after Romania had gone behind early in the match. But for Barbu, the pressure didn’t feel overwhelming. Playing in front of a home crowd brought out the best in him. “I can’t explain it… it was amazing,” he said about the fans. “It was a very good support. They were celebrating my goal very good. It was very good.”

FIGHT IN EVERY MATCH When asked if he’s already thinking ahead to qualification for the next round, Barbu didn’t let himself get carried away. “We take it game by game and we will see,” he said. “Of course I want to score again, but all the teams here are strong. Montenegro, Spain, Denmark. We have to fight in every match.”

One of the key players who changed the game for Romania didn’t even start. Bâsceanu came off the bench and made an immediate difference. “Two days ago, the coach told me I was going to come in during the match. So I was focused on being ready,” he said. His influence was clear: within minutes of coming on, he set up the equalizer. He was clear that it would have been unfair not to claim victory, given the many chances Romania created. “We missed a lot, but we did our job and we got the three points.”

CLOSE-KNIT ATMOSPHERE Bâsceanu also highlighted the close-knit atmosphere within the team. “We’re very united. We help each other and we demonstrated today we have that,” he explained. “Many of us have known each other since we were 14 or 15.

Looking ahead, Bâsceanu acknowledged the challenge that awaits against Spain. “It’s going to be a tough test, but we aren’t scared. We have quality and hope to get at least one point.” When asked if playing against top players from big clubs fuels their ambition, he replied confidently, “We’re the same age and I don’t think there’s a big difference in quality between us and them. The teams in this tournament all have similar levels.”

THE COMEBACK STORY Defender Marincău, who scored the equalizing goal with a header, was also part of the comeback story. Earlier in the match, he had made a mistake that allowed Montenegro to take the lead. “I feel very good. I’m very happy that we can win this game. And happy about my goal. And I hope that we analyze the game and the mistakes won’t happen again.”

Even when the clock ticked towards the 90th minute, Marincău said the belief never wavered. “We had many chances. So I had the hope we would win the game, even in the 90th minute.” A draw would have been unfair, he said: “Montenegro had, I think, 2 or 3 shots on target, and we had like 20 or something. So I think it is a fair win for us.”

STRONG BOND Marincău also spoke about the strong bond within the squad. “We are a very good family in the national team. Most of us have played together for almost three years. We have a very good connection on and off the field. So I think it’s very good for a tournament like this.”

Coach Ion Marin shared the same sentiment. “It is a deserved victory for us,” he said. “We controlled the game. Unfortunately, we missed a lot of opportunities to score. We still have a problem with focus, with concentration.”

IMPACT OF SUBSTITUTES The coach praised the impact of the substitutes who came on around the 60th minute, saying they were decisive in turning the game in Romania’s favor. Looking ahead to their upcoming clash with Spain, the reigning champions, he emphasized the importance of recovery and preparation. “We have a very tough match on Monday against Spain. They won the competition last year, so it will be a real challenge,” Marin said.

He also expressed hope that the squad would come through their medical checks without injury problems, adding that finding the best lineup and tactics will be crucial for taking on such a strong opponent. “Of course, we need to find the best solutions to create a strong team to fight against Spain on Monday.”

The win over Montenegro did more than put Romania top of their group; it injected belief into a team that knows what it’s capable of. And as Barbu said, “Everything is possible.”

Courtesy AIPS Media