Belgium finishes second in Group E in the European Championship in Germany after a 0–0 match against Ukraine – which is eliminated from the championship.
For the Belgians, a tough eighth-final against France awaits.
All teams in Group E had three points before the final round. It was therefore completely open as to which teams would advance to the eighth-final and which would be eliminated from the European Championship in Germany.
The 0–0 result in Ukraine's and Belgium's meeting in Stuttgart and 1–1 in Slovakia's and Romania's match in Frankfurt meant that Romania, Belgium, and Slovakia advanced and that Ukraine was eliminated.
There were vastly different scenes at the different arenas when the final whistles blew. In Frankfurt, both teams celebrated, while no team in Stuttgart was satisfied.
Some players in the Ukrainian team lay down on the grass in disappointment. They then gathered and thanked their travelling supporters with applause, as they had done earlier in the championship.
Belgium, which was favourite to win the group, finished in second place and will therefore face a nightmare draw in the eighth-final: France in Düsseldorf on Monday.
Later on Wednesday evening, the European Championship's final group, F, will be decided. Portugal has already secured advancement from the group, which also includes Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Georgia.
So far, three of the eight eighth-finals are completely clear. In addition to France-Belgium, it is clear that Switzerland will meet Italy in Berlin and Germany will face Denmark in Dortmund, both on Saturday.
The other countries that have advanced to the eighth-final but have not yet got a clear opponent are – in addition to Romania and Slovakia – Spain, Portugal, Austria, England, the Netherlands, and Slovenia.
