Belgium reached the knockout stages of Euro 2024 as the runners-up of Group E, while Ukraine was eliminated after a goalless draw in Stuttgart. All four teams in Group E were level on points before this final match, making the outcome highly significant.
Ukraine’s chance to advance depended not only on their own performance but also on the result of the match between Slovakia and Romania, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Ukraine struggled in Stuttgart, where they failed to create many attacking opportunities and couldn’t challenge Belgium’s defense effectively until late in the game.
Belgium’s defense was solid, with Leicester City’s Wout Faes playing a key role. Faes made two crucial blocks near the end to prevent Artem Dovbyk from testing Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels. Ukraine’s Roman Yaremchuk tried to make an impact, but the team missed the presence of injured Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk. Ruslan Malinovskyi came close to scoring with a well-placed corner kick that nearly went past Casteels.
Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne provided a touch of class with a free-kick that narrowly missed the target in the first half. Belgium’s best chance came when Romelu Lukaku’s shot was saved by Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Substitute Yannick Carrasco also had a chance but couldn’t score.
In the end, Belgium progressed to the knockout stage with one win, one draw, and one loss in their group matches. They will face World Cup finalists France in the Round of 16. Belgium’s coach, Domenico Tedesco, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to challenge top opponents, saying, “We go to win. We are really ready.”
For Ukraine, the result was a disappointing end. Despite earning four points, they finished at the bottom of their group, making them the first team in Euro history to achieve this and still be eliminated. The last 20 minutes of the match saw Ukraine pushing hard for a goal, knowing their exit was imminent. They managed to test Belgium’s defense but failed to score.
Georgiy Sudakov had a chance to make an impact but missed the opportunity with a weak shot. Belgium’s defense remained strong, with Timothy Castagne blocking a dangerous strike from Malinovskyi.
Belgian fans were vocal throughout the match, but their enthusiasm waned as the game progressed. The team’s subdued performance led to some jeers from the crowd, who were frustrated by the lackluster display.
Ukraine’s players showed their disappointment at the end but still made a point to acknowledge their supporters. Coach Serhiy Rebrov reflected on the team’s journey, saying their defeat to Romania in the opening game was costly but that they had shown resilience. He praised his players for their effort and emphasized the importance of their fight and representation in European football.
Both teams will now look ahead to their next challenges, with Belgium gearing up for a tough match against France, and Ukraine taking pride in their fighting spirit despite their early exit.
