Ukraine 0-0 Belgium
Belgium and Ukraine played out a 0-0 draw in their final Group E game; and that was enough to see the Red Devils through and the brave Ukrainians out.
In a group which started with all four teams on three points, Euro 2024: Ukraine vs Belgium was the one most eyes were on. But fans at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart had an ear on events in the other Group E match between Slovakia and Romania which also ended in a draw.
So with all four teams on for points, Belgium finished second and Ukraine fourth…it’s a cruel game.
Highlights of the game
Belgium’s 2-0 win over Romania brought the Red Devils back on track but it was another frustrating night for Romelu Lukaku, having a third goal ruled out by VAR. With 85 goals for the Red Devils he’s a scoring machine and surely this would be his day. Lukaku burst through with just six minutes gone, latching on to a ball from Kevin De Bruyne, but he scuffed his shot and Anatoliy Trubin saved.
We expected the Red Devils to kick on but the first half Ukraine vs Belgium highlights told a very different story.
Ukraine’s comeback win over Slovakia clearly gave them confidence and, after a tricky opening 15 minutes, they ventured into attack. Roman Yaremchuck found space to unleash a shot which Koen Casteels gathered at the second attempt, and then Artem Dovbyk tried his luck but dragged his effort wide.
25 minutes in and news came through that Slovakia had scored against Romania to go top of the group. And then Ukraine had a golden chance when Dovbyk turned his defender but, with Yaremchuk with a clear sight of goal and screaming for the ball, the Girona man took an age and the chance evaporated. Meanwhile, over in Frankfurt, Romania equalised to level up the whole group again.
Ukraine had another great chance when Mykola Shaparenko put Yaremchuk through, and when he could have scored he squared for Dovbyk who failed to make contact. Ukraine’s play had been expansive but decision making had let them down again.
Belgium started the second half as they had the first, on the front foot, and Jeremy Doku weaved his way to the bi-line but his cross was just out of Lukaku’s reach. De Bruyne handed Lukaku another chance as the Roma man advanced on the right; he cut in and unleashed a shot but Trubin made a comfortable save.
Twenty minutes to go and Belgium upped the ante, Yannick Carrasco drawing a great save from Trubin after a smart interchange with Lukaku, and then Doku jinked his way across the edge of the penalty area before having a fierce shot charged down. At the other end of the pitch Wout Faes made a great block to deny Dovbyk.
With 15 minutes to go in Group E, all four sides could finish anywhere between first and fourth!
As things stood Ukraine were fourth and they pushed on again, Dovbyk firing into the side netting after a driving run from Heorhiy Sudakov. And then Ruslan Malinoviskyi almost scored an incredible goal, direct from a corner, but his near post missile was kept out by a desperate Casteels. With three minutes to go, Malinovskyi flattened Timothy Castagne with a pile driver. Then in injury time Malinovskyi fed Sudakov who drove forward, made space for a shot and then fired straight at Casteels.
And that was it…Ukraine were out; and so unlucky.
Key statistics
The pre-match Ukraine vs Belgium betting odds pointed firmly in the direction of the Red Devils but the first half saw the underdogs on top. While Belgium bossed possession Ukraine were ahead in the shot counts by seven to three and three to one on target.
Knowing that if things in Stuttgart and Frankfurt stayed the same and the teams all finished on four points, Ukraine would be bottom and out, so the next 45 minutes were bound to be nerve jangling. Belgium started the second half strongly but Ukraine roared back and won the shot count by 13 to 11 with four each on target.
Ukraine have become the first ever nation to go out of the Euros at the group stage with four points.
What’s next?
We’re moving into the knockout phase and here at SBOTOP we’re gearing up for some spectacular action and gripping drama as sudden death comes into play.
The favourites haven’t had it all their own way; France failed to win their group and so they will now face Belgium in an eye-catching clash. Slovakia will face either England or Spain, while group winners Romania await their draw.
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