Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Group E - Slovakia v Romania - Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - June 26, 2024 Romania's Florin Nita reacts REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
WUERZBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Romania goalkeeper Florin Nita has backed his side to beat Netherlands inside 90 minutes in their European Championship last-16 clash in Munich on Tuesday and avoid the drama of penalties.
The 36-year-old has been impressive in goal for the Romanians, who topped a tight Group E and will make their first appearance in the knockout stages of the Euros for 24 years.
"I'm ready for penalties but I don't want to go there. I want us to win in 90 minutes and I trust the team to do that," Nita told reporters on Saturday.
"It will be a difficult game but if we respect what the coach (Edward Iordanescu) is telling us and make the right decisions, I hope we can get a good result. We must be like a yellow wall, be united. If we do this, we will succeed.
"Netherlands have good players who play in strong championships. This is a force that I don't think we can match but through the strength of the group we can overcome this difference."
Nita, who made his international debut in 2017, has been preferred to the other two goalkeepers in the squad, Stefan Tarnovanu and Horatiu Moldovan, despite the latter starting eight of their 10 qualifiers on their way to the finals.
"The rest of the goalkeepers and I are very good friends," Nita said. "It is to Moldovan's credit that we are at these Euros. We are a team. We have a good relationship, we always encourage each other.
"I didn't know until the last moment that I would play. That mystery keeps us all hooked. I try to enjoy every moment spent here with this family.
"I am very happy that together with this wonderful team we have written history but I hope we don't stop now. I hope that after the match with Netherlands there will be even greater joy."
Nita said he had no thoughts of international retirement no matter happened on Tuesday.
"For me, the national team is the most important thing. I don't want to stop here, I would like to play for even 10 more years. I will take it step-by-step, season-by-season."
Asked about his most emotional moment of the tournament so far, Nita was clear.
"At the end of every match when I hug my wife and my children tell me they are proud of me and that they love me."
(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Clare Fallon)
