Belgium advanced to the round of 16 of the European Men’s Soccer Championship after delivering a 0-0 draw against Ukraine on Wednesday.
The four clubs in Group E concluded the group stage with four points each. Romania, however, took first place, ahead of Belgium and Slovakia, in order. Ukraine, the first team with four ranking points to be eliminated from the tournament, ended up in last place by virtue of for/against goal differential.
The world’s third-ranked Belgians could have suffered a much more tragic fate after Ukrainian substitute Ruslan Malinovskyi attempted to score directly from a corner late in the game. Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels, however, managed to punch the ball just wide of the near post.
Belgium will face France in the next round.
Romania and Slovakia in the next round
In the other match on Wednesday noon, Romania and Slovakia drew 1-1. This result allowed both countries to qualify for the round of 16.
During a second half marked by a thunderstorm and a sustained downpour, the two teams exchanged golden scoring chances — even if the draw suited both countries.
Slovakia took control at the 24e minute of play, after Ondrej Duda had skillfully redirected a shot into the corner of the Romanian net with his head.
Razvan Marin, however, levelled the score in the 37th minute.e, following a penalty shot. This was awarded following a lengthy video replay which confirmed that Ianis Hagi had been tripped in the penalty area.
Romania reached the qualifiers for the first time since Euro 2000, when Hagi’s father, the legendary Romanian player Gheorghe, was the team captain and he wore the no 10 — the same as his son.
With Graham Dunbar