Belgium advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 as group runners-up, while Ukraine was eliminated after a goalless draw in Stuttgart.
All four teams in Group E entered the evening with equal points and a chance to advance.
Ukraine’s fate also hinged on the outcome of Slovakia’s match with Romania, which ended in a 1-1 draw, due to their inferior goal difference.
In Stuttgart, Ukraine managed to limit Belgium’s opportunities but struggled to create consistent attacking threats until late in the game.
Leicester City’s Wout Faes stood out in Belgium’s defense, making two crucial blocks to prevent Artem Dovbyk from challenging goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
Without injured Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk, Roman Yaremchuk was a sporadic outlet for Ukraine, and Ruslan Malinovskyi nearly curled a corner past Casteels.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne added some needed quality, curling a first-half free-kick just wide.
Belgium’s closest scoring chances came when Romelu Lukaku’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, and substitute Yannick Carrasco also tested Trubin.
Ultimately, Domenico Tedesco’s side progressed with one win, one draw, and one loss in their three group matches. However, they will need to improve as they face World Cup finalists France in the last 16.
“We go to win,” said the Belgium boss. “We will face a top team and this is the reason why we qualified – otherwise we could have stayed at home.
“These are the games we are looking for, we can challenge everybody. I think we are ready, we are really ready.”
The result was a disappointing blow for Ukraine, who became the first team to win as many as four points yet finish bottom of their group at the Euros.
Jeers for below-par Belgium as Ukraine ‘keep fighting’
The match remained tightly contested until the final 20 minutes when Ukraine, aware of their impending exit, began to push for a winner, causing the game to open up.
Belgium faced defensive challenges but remained resolute, with Faes winning his battles against Dovbyk, and Timothy Castagne blocking a goal-bound strike from Malinovskyi.
Georgiy Sudakov missed a chance to test goalkeeper Casteels, striking a weak effort straight at him after a promising run through the middle.
It took over an hour for Ukraine to assert themselves, as Belgium controlled possession early on and created a few opportunities.
De Bruyne was influential in midfield, playing unpredictably, but couldn’t inspire a victory in an otherwise lackluster team performance.
Belgian fans, who had arrived in large numbers, kept the atmosphere lively with inflatable balls and chants, but the noise and intensity waned as the game progressed.
At full-time, there were jeers from the stands and subdued celebrations from the team, as many fans expressed their frustration with the underwhelming display, waving their arms while the players gathered in the center of the pitch, away from their supporters.
“On paper, yes you can be favourites but you have to play the games,” added Tedesco.
“These teams have absolutely nothing to lose. Of course they have quality players. We don’t have any small teams.
“If you lose the first game and the last one is Ukraine, knowing the circumstances, it’s not easy. These types of teams have a really good mentality.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s players fell to the ground at the end in disappointing fashion, before wandering over to their supporters and applauding them.
Manager Serhiy Rebrov said afterwards their defeat by Romania in their opening group game was damaging, but they had shown the people of Ukraine they are “still fighting”.
“We showed the character of our people,” he added. “We need the support of Europe and we are part of Europe. It is very important for us to be represented here.
“Unfortunately we didn’t do well. This is like in life, you make some mistakes and then it’s very important how you react. I think we reacted well.
“We are very proud of the players. Everyone in Ukraine is unhappy with the score but there are no question marks for the players.
“It’s very important to show that we are still alive, we are still fighting and we will not stop.”