Ukraine 0-0 Belgium: Four points not enough for fearless Ukraine as EURO2024 journey ends

Ukraine’s elimination from EURO2024 was confirmed on Wednesday evening following a goalless draw with Belgium in Stuttgart, despite finishing on four points in Group E.

The group was finely poised heading into the third round of matches, with all four teams inseparable on points ahead of their 17:00 BST [18:00 CEST] kickoff.

Serhiy Rebrov’s men forced the better chances throughout the stalemate, but crash out of the tournament due to their inferior goal difference.

As it happened

As has been the case in all three of Belgium’s EURO2024 group stage clashes, the Red Devils’ attack was defined by one man: Romelu Lukaku. His sheer lack of luck in front of goal continued again in Stuttgart, with the former Manchester United forward scuffing an effort early on and leaving Anatoliy Trubin with a rather simple save to produce.

Much of the match passed by without much worthy of note, though Ukraine did grow into proceedings within the last fifteen minutes or so. Artem Dovbyk failed to show the same prowess in front of goal that saw him receive plaudits last season with Girona, and Ruslan Malinovskyi could only direct his stinging strike into the torso of Youri Tielemans.

(Photo by Alex Caparros – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

That late period of pressure was not enough for the Blue and Yellow though, with Serhiy Rebrov’s men bowing out of EURO2024 despite picking up four points – a record that would have been enough for a second-place finish had they finished in England’s group.

In truth, Belgium were dire. Such intense criticism has been directed at England, and at the Netherlands to an extent, and now it is the turn of Belgium to feel the same wrath of pundits and fans. Kevin de Bruyne shepherded the players straight down the tunnel when the final whistle sounded, keen to avoid the brutal boos that sounded out from their travelling supporters.