The Red Devils could get first place and a much simpler part of the table in the event of victory. They might have deserved elimination after a dismal match.
All in Tintin costume for this decisive match, the Red Devils were of course hoping that this evening it would be Goals in Stock rather than Tintin in the Land of Regrets. There were two schools: those who were already calculating how to avoid the most difficult situation, and those who said that due to a misunderstanding, it could even be Flight 2706 to Brussels.
At kick-off, Belgium is in any case qualified (and second). A little feverish at the start of the match, she nevertheless created the first opportunity, against a Ukraine deprived of Mudryk and Tsygankov and visibly coming to defend. De Bruyne’s first tumble found Lukaku, who lost his face-to-face with Trubin (7th).
Tintin at a discount
Withdrawn into its camp, Ukraine sends counterattacks and takes advantage of inexplicable spaces in the Belgian midfield and back. Roman Yaremchuk takes the opportunity to alert Casteels (20th), before a loss of ball from Faes offers a strike this time to his friend Dovbyk (21st).
The same Dovbyk, found by a pass in the interval left by Onana and Castagne, hooks Faes again, but makes the wrong choice – and Sudakov hits well above (27th).
The Belgian game is stereotypical. Only a vicious free kick from KDB found the small net of Trubin (33rd). Worse, the biggest opportunity is then for Ukraine, when a full axis combination finds Yaremchuk. The ex-Brugeois then misses his pass towards Dovbyk (42nd).
The temple of sleep
One way or another, it will manage to be worse in the second half. Those who suffered the France and England matches the day before will not be able to be kinder to our Devils this Wednesday: nothing works, the ball circulates without ideas – blocked shots, missed passes and corners without danger.
Alone, in the 58th minute, a hook from Jérémy Doku finally managed to set things alight… but it was followed, as too often, by a final imprecise gesture. Tedesco decides to make changes, Trossard is booed when he leaves (62nd). And if bringing Carrasco in his place is surprising, it is the ex-Colchonero who alerts Trubin to a relay with Lukaku for a first thrill (74th).
But the thrills will then be for the Belgian supporters: Artem Dovbyk, thrown into a duel with Faes, accelerates and forces Casteels to another stop. The top scorer in La Liga sows further panic a few minutes later, hitting the side net (78th). Worse: on a corner, Koen Casteels releases a ball and gets a big scare (83rd).
The end of the match takes place in an asphyxiating atmosphere: a goal, and the Devils are first in the group with a royal road; an opposing goal, and they are out. Ukraine takes risks, discovers itself, but neither De Bruyne nor Bakayoko finally returned forces the decision. Even Lukaku, author of a tricky match, is booed by his audience when he leaves. Like all his teammates at the final whistle of a match which perhaps broke something between the Devils and their supporters.
