Football

Ukraine vs Belgium: Euro 2024 Round of 16 Contenders Clash in StuttgartAs the Euro 2024 group stage nears its conclusion, Ukraine and Belgium will face off in a crucial match that could determine their fate in the tournament. Belgium, with a win against Romania under their belt, are poised to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Ukraine, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Romania.Belgium's star striker, Romelu Lukaku, will be eager to make his mark on the tournament after having three goals ruled out for offside. His presence in the box will pose a significant threat to the Ukrainian defense. Ukraine, meanwhile, will need to find a way to contain Lukaku and create scoring opportunities of their own.The match will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. Kick-off is scheduled for 9:30 PM IST. The match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.Ukraine's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage rest on a positive result against Belgium. With only three points from their first two matches, they are currently at the bottom of Group E. Even a draw against Belgium may not be enough to secure a top-three finish, which is required for qualification.Belgium, on the other hand, are in a more comfortable position. A win against Ukraine would guarantee their place in the Round of 16. However, a draw or a loss could leave them vulnerable to being overtaken by Finland or Romania, who are also on three points.The match between Ukraine and Belgium promises to be an exciting and closely contested affair. Both teams have the potential to reach the latter stages of the tournament, and this match could be a pivotal moment in their respective campaigns.

Belgium and Ukraine face off in a crucial Group E match at Euro 2024, with both teams vying for top spot in a group where all four teams are level on three points. This unprecedented situation in the tournament's history sets the stage for a thrilling final round of games.Belgium, despite a surprising 1-0 loss to Slovakia in their opener, bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Romania. Kevin De Bruyne, the team's talisman, delivered a masterclass, showcasing his ability to create chances and inspire his teammates. However, Belgium's conversion rate remains a concern, with Romelu Lukaku having three goals disallowed due to VAR interventions.Ukraine, playing in their first major tournament since the Russian invasion, have shown resilience and determination. After a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Romania, they rallied to edge Slovakia 2-1, earning praise from President Volodymyr Zelensky. The team's spirit and unwavering resolve have been evident throughout the tournament.No team with four points has ever failed to advance to the last 16 since the tournament expanded to 24 teams. However, Ukraine could miss out on goal difference if both Group E games on Wednesday end in draws. Slovakia and Romania, who face off at the same time in Frankfurt, know that a point apiece would be enough to send both countries into the next round.Slovakia, after beating Ukraine for their first win at a major tournament since Euro 2000, fought valiantly against Belgium but ultimately fell short. Edward Iordanescu's side needs just a point against Slovakia to guarantee a top-two finish.Romania, who defeated Ukraine in their opening match, also need a point against Slovakia to secure a place in the knockout phase. Iordanescu believes his team has the potential to write history for Romania.

Slovakia and Ukraine will face off in a crucial Euro 2024 Group E match on Friday, June 21, with Slovakia aiming to secure a spot in the knockout stage.Slovakia stunned Belgium 1-0 in their opening game, while Ukraine suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Romania. Both teams will be eager to improve their performances and secure a positive result.Slovakia's victory over Belgium was a testament to their resilience and determination. They defended stoutly and took their chances when they came. Ukraine, on the other hand, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against Romania and will need to be more clinical in front of goal.Ukraine boasts a talented squad, including goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and forward Mykhailo Mudryk. They will be hoping that their star players can step up and deliver a better performance against Slovakia.The match will be played at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany, and will kick off at 6:30 PM IST. It will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.Slovakia will be looking to build on their impressive start to the tournament, while Ukraine will be desperate to bounce back from their opening defeat. Both teams have the potential to qualify for the knockout stage, but only one can emerge victorious from this crucial encounter.

Ukraine, amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia, embarks on its European Championship campaign against Romania in Munich on Monday. The other teams in Group E are Belgium and Slovakia. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).Ukraine aims to build upon its most successful campaign to date, having reached the quarterfinals at Euro 2020, where it was eliminated by eventual runner-up England. The team earned a reputation as comeback kings in the playoffs, scoring late goals to overcome Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 in the semifinal and Iceland by the same score.Romania impressed in qualifying, sailing through unbeaten to top a group that also contained Switzerland and Israel. Edward Iordănescu will become the first coach to lead a Romania team at a European Championship since his father Anghel in 2016.Ukraine left back Vitaliy Mykolenko injured his ankle in the last warmup match before the tournament, but coach Serhiy Rebrov is hopeful the injury is not serious. Should Mykolenko not recover in time, he will likely be replaced by Oleksandr Zinchenko, who plays as left back for Arsenal but more often in midfield for the national side.Romania coach Iordănescu has all 26 of his players available. Romania has not reached the knockout stages in 24 years, since losing 2-0 to eventual runner-up Italy in the quarterfinals at Euro 2000.Romania surprised England at that tournament, beating it 3-2 in the group stage. That is Romania’s only win at a European Championship, having drawn five matches and lost its other 10.The teams have met six times before but never at a major tournament. Romania has the slight edge with three wins to Ukraine’s two – but the last of those was more than 20 years ago. There has been at least four goals in the past three matches between the sides.“It’s a great honor to represent Ukraine. You know what times we are going through now so I feel incredible responsibility for my actions but I’m not worried about my game,” said Ukraine defender Illya Zabarnyi.“These are unique times, wonderful times, times that every coach prepares, works and dreams for. It is a dream come true: a great story to have qualified after such a long time, and we want to make this moment last as long as possible,” said Romania coach Edward Iordănescu.“I mean at the moment, it’s probably one of the best teams we’ve had. It’s a good mix of young players and experienced players. We combine well on the pitch in terms of that. So, God knows what is going to happen but this team has huge potential,” said Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the nation's men's football team has found solace and support in Germany as they prepare for the European Championship. With patriotic songs echoing through the stadium and thousands of exiled Ukrainians in attendance, the team's first training session in Wiesbaden created a sense of home away from home.As the national anthem played, a poignant reminder of the war back home was evident. Each player presented a ball to a fan, with Oleksandr Zinchenko giving his to a military veteran with prosthetic legs. The proximity to the United States military headquarters in Wiesbaden, which coordinates aid delivery to Ukraine, served as a constant reminder of the ongoing struggle.Coach Serhiy Rebrov emphasized the importance of addressing the war and its impact on the team. "We need to talk about this," he said. "We know that some people are tired of the news, but we are continuing to fight and we need your support."Zinchenko, who was part of Ukraine's quarterfinal run in Euro 2021, acknowledged the unique nature of this tournament. "There is still people dying for no reason and we have to stick together," he said. "For them it is super difficult, for us it's obviously extra motivation."Ukraine's first match is against Romania on Monday in Munich. They will then face Slovakia and Belgium in Group F. Preparation for these games began in earnest on Thursday, with a formal welcome from local politicians.The 4,000 fans in attendance gave standing ovations to the players as they warmed up. "In Germany, the Ukrainian community is everywhere. We were very happy with everything here," said Rebrov.Despite the constant threat of Russian bombs targeting civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine, midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi expressed hope that people back home would have electricity to watch the games on TV.For the past decade, Ukrainian champion Shakhtar Donetsk has been unable to play in its home city due to the conflict in the country's east. Midfielder Taras Stepanenko, who has remained with Shakhtar throughout this period, emphasized the team's determination to represent their people."Every day people die, cities destroyed. Every day when we wake up, we read the news about what the situation is in Ukraine," said Stepanenko. "We live in this condition almost three years. It's so difficult."

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland have secured their spots in the 24-nation Euro 2024 lineup after thrilling qualifying playoffs.Ukraine's Triumphant ComebackUkraine, representing a war-torn nation, displayed resilience and determination in their 2-1 victory over Iceland. Mykhailo Mudryk's sweeping goal in the 84th minute sealed the win, echoing their late comeback in the previous playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ukraine's "home" game was played in neutral Poland due to security concerns in Kyiv.Georgia's Historic DebutGeorgia made history by qualifying for their first major tournament. They defeated Greece 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a tense 0-0 draw. Star forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia led the charge, while goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved two Greek spot-kicks. Georgia will face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, Turkey, and the Czech Republic in Group F.Poland's Ticket to GermanyPoland became the last team to book their ticket to Germany, edging out Wales 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw. Captain Robert Lewandowski, who scored the first penalty, watched anxiously as Wojciech Szczesny denied Dan James' final attempt. Poland will face France, the Netherlands, and Austria in Group D.Eastern European FlavorThe Euro 2024 lineup now boasts a stronger eastern European presence. Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland join Russia, who were banned from qualifying due to the ongoing military invasion. This reflects the growing competitiveness of football in the region.Tournament DetailsEuro 2024 will be played in 10 German cities from June 14 to July 14. Ukraine will face Romania, Slovakia, and Belgium in Group F. Georgia will play Portugal, Turkey, and the Czech Republic in Group F. Poland will face France, the Netherlands, and Austria in Group D.