Euro 2024: Belgium progress as Ukraine knocked out
Ukraine 0 - 0 Belgium
Belgium advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 as group runners-up, while Ukraine bowed out of the competition after a goalless draw in Stuttgart.
All four teams in Group E began the evening on equal points, each with a shot at progressing. Ukraine's chances were hampered by an inferior goal difference, meaning their fate hinged on the outcome of Slovakia's match against Romania, which ended 1-1.
Despite limiting Belgium to few chances, Ukraine struggled to mount a consistent attacking threat until the latter stages of the game. Leicester City's Wout Faes stood out in Belgium's defence, making two crucial blocks late on to deny Artem Dovbyk a shot at goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
With Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk injured, Roman Yaremchuk served as Ukraine's sporadic attacking outlet, while Ruslan Malinovskyi almost curled a corner past Casteels and inside the near post.
Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne added a touch of class for Belgium, curling a first-half free-kick just wide.
Belgium nearly scored when Romelu Lukaku scuffed a close-range shot straight at goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, followed by substitute Yannick Carrasco also testing Trubin.
Ultimately, Domenico Tedesco's squad progressed with one win, one draw, and one loss from their three group matches. They will need to step up their game with World Cup finalists France awaiting them in the last 16.
For Ukraine, the result was a bitter blow as they became the first team to earn four points and still finish bottom of their group at the Euros.
The match remained tentative until the final 20 minutes when Ukraine, knowing they were on the brink of elimination, pushed for a winner, opening up the game.
Belgium faced defensive tests but held firm, with Faes winning his battles against Dovbyk, and Timothy Castagne blocking a goal-bound strike from Malinovskyi.
Georgiy Sudakov missed a chance to challenge Casteels with a weak shot after a promising break through the middle.
It took Ukraine over an hour to assert themselves as Belgium controlled possession early on, creating several chances.
De Bruyne influenced the midfield with unpredictability but couldn't inspire a win in an otherwise lacklustre team performance.
Belgian fans, who arrived in large numbers, played with inflatable balls in the stands and chanted throughout, but their enthusiasm waned as the game dragged on. There were jeers at full-time, and the celebrations were subdued, with many supporters showing their frustration by waving their arms while the players gathered in the centre of the pitch, away from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's players fell to the ground in disappointment at the end, before heading over to their supporters to applaud them.
