Ukraine withdraws from European Community after 0-0 draw with Belgium

(Ukraine – Belgium 0-0) This tournament also saw the “group of death”, with four teams accumulating four points. Brave Ukraine had to start from the German EC.

Wednesday, June 26, 20:21

– BBC expert Alan Shearer said Ukraine is much better, while Belgium is terrible.

There has never been a situation in EC history where a team finished last with 4 points. In 1994, Norway finished last in the World Cup group, and in 2000, they finished first in the EC group with 4 points, which was the last time Norway participated in the tournament. They then finished third, but faced Yugoslavia in the final.

For Belgium, the 0-0 result means they will finish second in the group. France therefore await Kevin De Bruyne and company in the round of 16, which doesn’t help the Ukraine side who feel they own three-quarters of the pitch at home in Stuttgart.

– Shearer told the BBC that Ukraine were unlucky not to score.

Whenever they were close to a transition or finish, they roared forward – something that rarely happened in the first 80 minutes of the game.

But then the game got heated, both teams released the handbrakes, and Ukraine had at least three good chances:

Girona’s La Liga top scorer Artem Dobvik fired into the net, Ruslan Malinovskyi scored almost directly from a corner kick, and Sudakov rushed into the penalty area to shoot, but only hit Belgian goalkeeper Casteels. The stadium was deceived by the long-awaited cheers.

Graphics: www.sofascore.com

– BBC Radio expert Stephen Warnock said that Georgiy Sudakov is the mastermind behind all the good work in Ukraine.

Belgium had the majority of possession early in the game but exercised moderate risk management. They knew they would lead with a draw, so they played patiently and focused, positioning Kevin De Bruyne in an attacking midfield position to get as close to Romelu Lukaku as possible.

It was this combination that would give the Belgians the lead a few minutes later.

But Lukaku’s edge was still poor, just like in the first two games of the European Championship, and this time he slipped between the Ukrainian center backs and shot with his left foot, which was perfect and never hit the ball.

For a long time, the game was dull and there were few chances, but De Bruyne’s shot and Jaremtsjuk’s long-range shot made it a strong comeback until the last few minutes of the second half.

Belgium was leading 3-2 but wasted a counterattack opportunity as Bakayoko missed the ball.

– We talk about England’s plight, but it’s the same in Belgium, says BBC Radio 4 pundit Stephen Warnock.

– Progress is very slow, especially in the middle. Better at the edges.