Belgium has qualified for the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after a goalless draw with Ukraine in their final Group E match. Despite finishing level on points with Ukraine, Romania, and Slovakia, Belgium’s draw was enough to secure their place in the last 16.
Ukraine, however, has been eliminated from the tournament despite their brave performance. They became the first team to exit the European Championship with four points since the tournament expanded to 24 teams.
Romania took top spot in the group after their 1-1 draw with Slovakia, while Belgium will face France in the next round. The draw has placed Belgium on the tougher side of the bracket, which also features hosts Germany, Spain, and Portugal.
The match was marked by a tense atmosphere, with Belgium supporters expressing their frustration at the final whistle. Captain Kevin De Bruyne appeared to tell his teammates not to acknowledge the crowd’s jeers.
Ukrainian fans, meanwhile, paid tribute to their fallen comrades with a banner honoring a 21-year-old soldier who died in battle last month. The image was generated using artificial intelligence and photos of 182 football fans also killed in combat.
The match saw several scoring opportunities, with Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Carrasco coming close for Belgium, while Ukraine’s Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk also had chances. However, neither team could find the back of the net, leading to a tense and emotional conclusion to the group stage.
