On Wednesday, June 26, the Ukrainian national team played its third match at Euro 2024. The opponent of the Blue-Yellows was the national team of Belgium, and the game itself was held in Stuttgart at the MHP-Arena stadium.
Euro 2024. Group stage. Group "E". 3rd round
UKRAINE - BELGIUM - 0:0
Warnings: Dovbik (69) - Fas (43).
Ukraine: 12.Trubin, 16.Mikolenko (17.Zichnenko, 58), 22.Matvienko (K), 3.Svatok (7.Yarmolenko, 81), 13.Zabarny, 24.Tymchik, 18.Brazhko (6.Stepanenko, 70), 19.Shaparenko (8.Malinovsky, 70), 14.Sudakov, 9.Yaremchuk (25.Vanat, 70), 11.Dovbik.
Reserves: 1.Buschan, 23.Lunin, 2.Konoplya, 4.Taloverov, 5.Sidorchuk, 20.Zubkov, 21.Bondar, 26.Mikhailichenko.
Belgium: 1.Castelos, 21.Castagne, 3.Theate, 4.Fas, 5.Vertonghen, 24.Onana, 8.Thielemans (18.Mangala, 62), 7.De Bruyne (K), 9.Trossard (11.Carrasco, 62), 22.Doku (19.Bakayoko, 77), 10.Lukaku (20.Openda, 90).
Reserves: 12.Kaminski, 13.Seles, 2.Debast, 16.Vranx, 17.de Ketelare, 23.Vermeeren, 25.de Keijper.
Transcript of the match and statistics >>>
Post-match press conference >>>>
Group "E" final standings >>>
Belgium took full control of the ball from the starting whistle, and already in the 7th minute of the match they created the first goal: as a result of Lukaku's cut-back pass, he fell to Trubin, shot from close range, but the Ukrainian goalkeeper managed to clear the ball. However, except for this episode, the Belgians in the opening segment of the meeting did not achieve anything in the attack. But the Ukrainians with the passage of time began to cling to the ball more often, and on 20 minutes were remembered for a long-range shot from Dovbik, which, however, confidently handled by Kastelos.
The middle of the first half passed, in general, in an equal struggle and without actual aggravation of the situation. The only thing to note is Sudakov's shot from outside the penalty area - exactly on target, but Castelos again played flawless and cool-blooded. And towards the end of the first half, Ukraine created another scoring moment: Yaremchuk broke into the Red Devils' penalty area from the left, had a shot on goal, but then passed to Dovbik, who "played" the goalkeeper, but was a little inaccurate. The Belgian team almost immediately responded with a shot by De Bruyne from outside the penalty area - in this situation Trubin played reliably. As a result, the teams went into the break with zeros on the scoreboard.
The second half also passed in a relatively equal struggle and without chances. The Ukraine national team played very compact and tenaciously in defense, which deprived the opponent of any chance to create spice. In the beginning of the half we can only note Lukaku's shot from the right side of the penalty area, after which Trubin managed to cover the ball.
And only in the 73rd minute of the match at the gates of the Ukraine national team for the first time after the break was really dangerous - it was Carrasco shot hard from the penalty area, but Trubin saved the Ukraine national team in a throw. "Blue-Yellow" responded with a shot Dovbik from close range, but from an acute angle, which was blocked by Fas (and Castelos was close). Later, the same Dovbik shot from a more comfortable position, but was under pressure from the opponent and sent the ball to the outside of the net. Also we can't fail to mention Malinovskiy's direct kick from a corner, after which the ball flew into the goal, but Kastelos reacted. The Belgians responded to all this with Bakayoko's shot from outside the penalty area - inaccurate. The Ukrainian team had the last chance to change the score - in the form of a shot by Sudakov from 14 meters in the offset time of the second half, which was handled by Castelos. In the end, the match referee recorded a 0-0 draw in this match.
In the other match of the 3rd round of Group "E" Slovakia and Romania also played a draw - 1:1. As a result, the Ukraine national team took the last, fourth place in the group and leaves Euro 2024.
Final standings of Group "E":
1. Romania - 4 points
2. Belgium - 4
3. Slovakia - 4
4. UKRAINE - 4.
Alexander POPOV
