Kevin De Bruyne and Belgium secured their place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 amidst boos from their supporters following a goalless draw against Ukraine.
The result saw them finish second in their group, setting up a challenging encounter with France on Monday. Romania, who topped the group, will face the Netherlands in the next round.
Despite their progression, Belgium’s campaign in Germany has been fraught with difficulties.
They began the tournament with a loss to Slovakia but bounced back with a strong win over Romania. However, the draw against Ukraine left many fans disappointed.
De Bruyne experienced the brunt of their frustration. He led his team-mates towards the fans after the game, but their hostile reaction resulted in him turning away and instructing the players to instead leave the pitch.
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Adding to the tension, the 32-year-old was again met with boos when he was named Man of the Match, marking his second such award of the tournament.
“We need these fans. We’ll need them against France. That’s all I have to say,” the Manchester City star said in a post-match press conference.
“We tried to win the match. We had goal-scoring opportunities, but we didn’t take any risks with the [late] corner because we knew we might concede a goal.
“If that happens, you’re out of the Euros. It’s a shame we didn’t manage to score before. We had opportunities and after that we just need the fans to stay with us.”
Despite the friction, Belgium will need to regroup and prepare for their crucial match against France in the knockout stages.
The round of 16 🤩#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/IUur3dnj0m
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 26, 2024
