Belgium navigate a safe passage to the last 16 of Euro 2024 despite flattering to deceive in a goalless draw with Group E rivals Ukraine, who are knocked out.
Belgium navigated a safe passage to the last 16 of Euro 2024 despite flattering to deceive in a goalless draw with Ukraine – who have been knocked out of the competition – at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.
For the first time in the history of the men’s European Championships, all four sides in Group E had three points to their name after two matches, leaving every single outcome still possible on the final matchday.
While Domenico Tedesco‘s men enjoyed the stronger start and unsurprisingly dominated the ball, they failed to carve out any real opportunities to test Anatoliy Trubin, as Romelu Lukaku‘s Euros duck continued.
Desperation kicked in for Serhiy Rebrov‘s men in the dying embers, but Koen Casteels was on hand to make some massive saves, and Ukraine were also made to pay for a lack of ruthlessness en route to an early exit.
Owing to Romania’s 1-1 draw with Slovakia, Belgium have finished second behind the former due to fewer goals scored, while Ukraine’s inferior goal difference to Slovakia sends them packing, the first team to be eliminated despite acquiring four points, the tally that all Group E sides finished on.
Magnificent Malinovskyi corner cleared off line by Casteels
As wave after wave of Belgium attacks led to nothing, there was seemingly an acceptance from the Red Devils that they would be content with the draw simply to ensure a spot in the knockouts, as Ukraine upped the ante in the final 10.
The Blue and Yellow were mere centimetres away from upsetting the Group E apple cart with one of the most sensational Euros moments ever, as what appeared to be a shocking 83rd-minute corner from Ruslan Malinovskyi instead turned into a brilliant effort on goal.
The Ukrainian’s low effort was curling in at Koen Casteels’s near post, which was not being guarded by any outfield man, and the Red Devils goalkeeper had to spring into action to make a vital save to thwart Malinovskyi’s eye-catching attempt.
With the ball just about to cross the line, a quick-thinking Casteels managed to deflect the ball round his near post with his forearms for another set piece – which came to nothing – and the magnitude of that contribution cannot be overstated.
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