At the other, their opponents could barely approach the box before being driven back by the fury of their support. The oddity was, it was Ukraine who had gone out who were celebrated, and Belgium who had gone through who were booed and jeered to such an extent that Kevin De Bruyne told the players to go to the dressing room.
In the end, Ukraine just didn't have the energy or the guile. They will feel unfortunate to have been eliminated having picked up four points, the same as every other side in the group, more than Denmark who qualified in second and various third-placed teams. But in the final minutes, when it became apparent that they would need a goal after all, they had nothing.
There are bigger issues at stake, of course, as indicated by the way Belgium's fans applauded the Ukrainian anthem. In every interview, every press conference, their players have talked about waiting for news from home, of friends and relatives huddling round a single radio or phone to follow games, of the anguish of those back home. If their prime job was to remind the world of the war they are fighting, they have done it admirably. That was what their fans were recognising in their applause, that and a basic togetherness in adversity.
Ukraine 0
Belgium 0
This story is from the June 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the June 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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