Belgium have got the best out of a 0-0 draw at the European Championship, advancing to the last 16 while their luckless opponents Ukraine became the first team with four points in a group to be eliminated.
But the downside for the Belgians is they will next face France and Kylian Mbappe at Euro 2024 on Monday in Dusseldorf.
All four teams in group E finished with four points after Wednesday’s final round of matches.
Romania, who drew 1-1 with Slovakia in Frankfurt, ended up topping the group, perhaps surprisingly.
Belgium finished second and Slovakia third – both also qualifying – but Ukraine were last on goal difference.
Belgium, the world No.3 side nearly had a very different ending when Ukraine substitute Ruslan Malinovskyi tried to score directly from corner late in the match, with Belgian keeper Koen Casteels having to save the effort at the near post.
The Belgian fans booed the team at the end of the game at Stuttgart Arena, while Ukrainian supporters showed their appreciation of their national team, who have enjoyed a swell of emotional support in the championships.
Ukraine had another good chance to score late in the match when Georgiy Sudakov got through the Belgian defence, only to shoot straight at Casteels.
Belgium, who lost to Slovakia in their opening game to put themselves under prerssure, struggled to get their attack going once again with Romelu Lukaku failing to make the most of his team’s best chance in the first half.
In Frankfurt, Romania and Slovakia both got what they wanted, but during a thunderstorm and pounding rain midway through the second half, they both chased a winning goal in a frenetic spell despite the draw suiting them both.
Slovakia led in the 24th minute when Ondrej Duda directed a powerful header down into the corner of the net.
Razvan Marin equalised in the 37th from a penalty awarded after a two-minute video review to decide if Ianis Hagi was tripped inside the area.
Romania will now play in the knockout round for the first time since Euro 2000 when Hagi’s father, national soccer icon Gheorghe, was captain in the No.10 shirt now worn by his son.
Source Agencies
