Ukraine vs Belgium

Watch Ukraine vs Belgium full match replay and highlights.
KICK-OFF at 16:00 (GMT) on 26th June 2024
The referee for this match is A. Taylor
Game played at Stuttgart Arena
This is a match in Europe – UEFA Euro, Group E, Season 2024

Belgium and Ukraine Play Out Goalless Draw in First-Ever Meeting, Belgium Advances in Euro 2024

In their inaugural meeting, Belgium and Ukraine played to a 0-0 draw, resulting in a tightly contested Group E of the UEFA European Championships. All four teams in the group ended with four points, but Belgium secured second place behind Romania on goals scored, while Ukraine finished bottom on goal difference, with their heavy defeat to Romania on Matchday 1 proving costly.

First Half: Belgium’s Early Dominance

With every team in the group tied at three points before kick-off, the stakes were high. Belgium began dominantly, using a high press against Ukraine’s deep-lying defense. Kevin De Bruyne, known for his ability to break down defenses, picked out Romelu Lukaku within seven minutes. However, Lukaku’s misfortunes continued as he failed to convert the chance, with Anatoliy Trubin making a comfortable save.

Despite Belgium’s strong start, Ukraine’s defense held firm, frustrating the Belgians. As the half progressed, Serhiy Rebrov’s team grew into the game but only managed to create half-chances that didn’t trouble Koen Casteels in the Belgian goal, leaving the score 0-0 at halftime.

Second Half: Stalemate Continues

The second half saw continued struggles for both sides to break the deadlock. Lukaku had another opportunity just after the hour mark, cutting in from the right, but his shot was easily gathered by Trubin. The introduction of Yannick Carrasco in the 62nd minute injected some energy into the game. Carrasco came close to scoring after cutting in from the left and shooting from the edge of the box, but Trubin was equal to the task with a strong save.

Ukraine’s best chance came from Ruslan Malinovskyi, whose corner kick almost caught Casteels off guard, but the Belgian goalkeeper made a crucial save on the goal line.

Final Whistle: Qualification and Next Steps

Ultimately, neither side managed to find the elusive goal. The 1-1 draw between Slovakia and Romania in Frankfurt meant that goal difference and goals scored were crucial in determining the standings. Belgium advanced to the Round of 16, but their performance left much to be desired, with a challenging match against France awaiting them.

Key Moments

• Kevin De Bruyne’s Pass to Romelu Lukaku: Lukaku missed a golden opportunity early in the game.
• Yannick Carrasco’s Introduction: Provided a spark but couldn’t break the deadlock.
• Ruslan Malinovskyi’s Corner: Nearly caught Casteels by surprise, but the Belgian keeper made a vital save.

Conclusion

Belgium’s draw with Ukraine ensures their progression to the knockout stages, but their performance raised concerns ahead of their Round of 16 clash with France. Ukraine, despite their resilient defense, were eliminated due to their inferior goal difference, marking a disappointing end to their Euro 2024 campaign.