Real Madrid goalkeeper apologizes after horror show

Real Madrid and Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin apologized to his national team colleagues for his performance after Ukraine was beaten 3-0 in their opening group stage game at the Euros on Monday.

Ukraine faced Romania in their first group-stage match on Monday, and they were well beaten by the Romanians, who recorded their first victory at a European Championship in 24 years.

The road to victory was opened just half an hour into the game when Captain Nicolae Stanciu gave Romania a surprise lead after finding the top corner with a long-range strike from 20 yards out.

If the first one was spectacular and beyond Lunin’s reach, he should have done better for the second goal as Razvan Marin’s long-range shot squeezed under him in the 53rd minute to double the Tricolours’ lead.

Romania sealed off the win with a tap-in from close range four minutes later from Denis Dragus. Lunin, who was exceptional during the season for a doubles-winning Real Madrid side, apologized to the team for making the game complicated while also hinting about his future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I apologize to my teammates; my mistake complicated the game. All I can say is sorry and get back up for the next game. Do I want to stay at Real Madrid? Let’s see, in life, you never know, but obviously yes,” he said.

The game is Ukraine’s first match at a major tournament since the invasion of the country by Russian soldiers in 2022. The country could have played at the FIFA World Cup 2 years ago, but they lost in the playoffs to Wales.

For Romania, the last time they won at the Euros was in 2000 when they beat England 3-2 in the group stage. It is a big result for the country that warmed up to the European Championships with disappointing goalless draws to Liechtenstein and Bulgaria.