Belgium will be going all out to win their final Group E match against Ukraine on Wednesday, despite knowing that a draw would be enough to secure their spot in the last 16 of Euro 2024. The Red Devils are currently locked in a tight group with Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania, with all four teams tied on three points ahead of the final round of fixtures.
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Belgium
While a draw would guarantee Belgium’s progression to the knockout stages, manager Domenico Tedesco is keen to avoid complacency and is instead focusing on securing a win. “We can’t start to calculate or speculate,” he said. “We are going out to win the game.”
Belgium’s goal difference is currently superior to that of their group rivals, which means that as long as they avoid defeat, they will remain in one of the top two spots in Group E. However, Tedesco is aware that topping the group could lead to an easier last-16 draw, and is therefore keen to take all three points against Ukraine.
The Ukrainians, meanwhile, will be looking to continue their “fairytale” run at Euro 2024. Despite being stunned by Romania in their opening match, they bounced back with a 2-1 comeback win over Slovakia, and a victory against Belgium would see them reach the knockout stages for the second consecutive Euros.
Ukraine head coach Serhiy Rebrov is aware of the significance of the match, not just for his team’s chances of progressing, but also for the morale of the Ukrainian people. “For the Ukrainians, every game, every event like that means a lot, it means for them that they can come back to the usual pre-war times,” he said, referencing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The match is set to be a closely contested affair, with both teams boasting talented players and a strong desire to progress to the next round. Belgium will be without forward Dodi Lukebakio, who is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in two games, while Ukraine may give Everton left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko his first minutes of the tournament as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
The game will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 Live, with build-up starting at 16:30 BST. Fans can also follow text updates on the BBC Sport website and App.
Match Stats
- The sides have never met before, whether in a friendly or competitive match.
- Belgium are unbeaten in the last 22 games when they have faced an opponent for the first time (W13, D9).
- Ukraine’s four wins at the European Championship have all been by a 2-1 scoreline.
- They have failed to keep a clean sheet in all 13 of their games at the Euros – no other side has played more than five matches without at least one clean sheet.
- Belgium haven’t lost their final group game at any of their last six appearances at a major tournament (W5, D1) since a 2-0 loss against Turkey as co-hosts at Euro 2000.
- Romelu Lukaku could become the first player to score for Belgium at five different major tournaments. He currently shares the record four with Jan Ceulemans and Kevin de Bruyne.
