Cracker against France
Belgium struggles into the round of 16 – Ukraine comes away empty-handed
26.06.2024, 20:04
Once again, the Belgians are considered favorites ahead of the European Championship – and once again the team is struggling. In the end, a goalless, tough game against Ukraine was enough to get them into the knockout round. Another favorite is waiting there, and they have also struggled so far.
The eternal dark horse Belgium has trembled its way into a round of 16 clash against France, but Ukraine’s European Championship mission is over. Coach Domenico Tedesco’s Red Devils only needed a tough 0:0 draw against Ukraine in the exciting preliminary round final to at least move into the knockout round as second in Group E.
The third-placed team in the world rankings, including superstar Kevin De Bruyne, was once again unconvincing and will have to improve considerably in the explosive duel with the vice-world champions on Monday in Düsseldorf in order to avoid an early failure like they did at the World Cup in Qatar. Ukraine, on the other hand, was unable to give their war-torn nation the hoped-for success. Serhij Rebrow’s team was unluckily eliminated in fourth place in the group due to a worse goal difference.
The Ukrainians were once again sworn in by their President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Let’s go on, guys! The next important fight is coming up,” he wrote. Midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk also outlined the importance of the match. He hoped “that we will continue this fantastic fairy tale for the whole country for several days.”
Rebrow surprisingly decided not to field his England stars Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea FC and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Arsenal FC. Tedesco replaced the suspended Dodi Lukebakio with Leandro Trossard.
Belgium falters but does not fall
The Belgians quickly took the initiative and had the first big chance through Romelu Lukaku after a dream pass from de Bruyne (7th minute), but Anatolij Trubin saved. For Lukaku, it would have been his first goal of the tournament after he caused a curiosity in the first two group matches: he scored three times, and the VAR intervened three times and refused to acknowledge it.
Belgium initially dominated the game, but Ukraine did not hide and kept the game open with great effort. Roman Yaremchuk tested Wolfsburg’s former keeper Koen Casteels, who is moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer, with a powerful long-range shot (20′).
From then on, Ukraine remained extremely dangerous on the counterattack, while Belgium struggled to find gaps in the well-positioned Ukrainian defense. No matter how hard De Bruyne tried, only a clever free kick from the Manchester City playmaker (33′) that hit the side netting caused a brief stir. Tedesco tried again and again on the sidelines to sort out his team’s faulty play – in vain. Belgium was even lucky that Ukraine was too hesitant in some attacks.
After the break, things continued to be tough for Belgium. The favorites kept getting stuck. Chances? None for a long time. Instead, Artem Dowbyk almost scored for Ukraine (75th/79th minute): Belgium wobbled badly, but did not fall.