In second place in Group E, Belgium qualified for the round of 16 of the European Championship. The Belgians drew 0-0 with Ukraine on Wednesday and secured their qualification on goal difference. At one point in the game, the team decided to hold on for a draw to secure their place in the next round. However, the fans booed the Belgian team’s attitude at the end of the game, which angered De Bruyne, who ordered the team not to thank the fans for coming.
Into the last 16! 🇧🇪 #UKRBEL #WirSchaffenDas #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/6ePhd9RTty
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 26, 2024
De Bruyne and Vertonghen, both veterans of the Belgian team, applauded the fans, but the reaction that came from the stands was not what was expected. They hadn’t even reached the area to finish their thanks when the Manchester City midfielder turned and sent Vertonghen and the other teammates who followed them to the dressing room.
The reaction of the Belgium players was also astonishment. Another experienced player in the team, Carrasco declared that he saw no reason for the fans to boo.
“We are qualified and very proud as a team. We don’t understand the fans’ reaction. It’s disappointing. We went to the dressing room because we don’t think the booing is normal. You can’t forget where Belgium comes from and now we are in every tournament,” said the striker.
After the duel, De Bruyne spoke out and tried to calm the situation with the fans, saying that “we still need our fans and I don’t want to make any further comments about that”.
Belgium will face France in the round of 16 of the European Championship. The game is scheduled for this Monday, at 1pm (BrasĂlia time), at the Merkur Spiel-Arena, in Dusseldorf.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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