Belgium qualified for Euro 2024 as group winners but Ukraine was eliminated from the tournament after a goalless draw in Stuttgart. All four teams in Group E
started level on points this evening and have a chance of advancing.
But the small goal difference meant Ukraine knew their fate depended on the outcome of the match between Slovakia and Romania, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Failure to qualify for Stuttgart hurt Belgium's chances, but they lost their threat in the evening.
Leicester City's Wout Faes was the star player of the Belgian defense, denying Artem Dovbyk's goalkeeper Koen Casteels with two important saves in the final minutes.
Roman Yaremchuk was also Ukraine's resource player, Mykhailo Mudryk was playing for Chelsea, while Ruslan Malinovskyi could be in Casteels' corner and in front of the near post.
Meanwhile, Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne provided much-needed relief by dribbling freely in the first half.
Belgium came close to scoring when Romelu Lukaku put the ball past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin from close range and substitute Yannick Carrasco Trubin took the lead.
In the end, Domenico Tedesco's team progressed with one loss, one draw, and one win in their three group matches.
However, they will need to advance to World Cup champions France in the next round of the last 16.
The Belgian coach said, "We will win." “We are going to face a top-flight team and that's why we qualified, otherwise we could have stayed at home.
“These are the matches we are looking for, we can compete with anyone. I think we're ready, we really are. "The result was disappointing for Ukraine, who were the first team to earn up to four points at the European Championship but finished last in the group.
Cheers to Belgium as Ukraine 'continue to struggle'.
In the final 20 minutes, Ukraine claimed the winner knowing they were currently out of the competition had to open it.
Belgium tries to defend but holds on and Faes wins the challenge against Dovbyk before Timothy Castagne throws his body into Malinovskyi's goal.
Georgiy Sudakov misses a chance to test as he beats goalkeeper Casteels hard after crossing the ball.
However, it took Ukraine an hour to assert its superiority in the match; Belgium dominated possession early and squandered the few chances they had.
De Bruyne moved to midfield and played an unpredictable game, but could not produce success in a disorganized team performance.
Belgian fans flocked to the stadium, played and sang with giant fireballs in the stands, but as the match progressed the noise diminished and the tempo in the process diminished.
There were full-time players and the team fans' celebration was unsuccessful; Many fans showed their displeasure with a poor display, waving their arms as the players gathered in the middle of the pitch away from the fans.
"You may be popular on paper, but you have to play the game," Tedesco added.
“These teams have nothing to lose, of course. We don't have small teams.
"If you lose the first match and the last match is Ukraine, you know the situation. It is not easy. The mentality of such teams is very good."
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian players fell to the ground in disappointment before approaching their fans and thanking them. coach Serhiy Rebrov said that what happened after their opening match defeat to Romania was devastating, but they allowed the Ukrainian people to "continue the fight".
"It showed the character of our people". “We need Europe's support and we are in Europe. We need to be represented here. “Unfortunately, we didn't do it right. It's just like life, you make mistakes and that's why how you act is so important. I think we took it well.
