Winning 4 points, Ukraine was eliminated in the strangest group of Euro 2024

Highlight Belgium 0-0 Ukraine

The race for a ticket to the next round in Group E of Euro 2024 has seen an unprecedented scenario in the history of the tournament, when all four teams including Romania, Slovakia, Belgium and Ukraine finished the group stage with the same 4 points after 3 matches.

Interestingly, right before the final round of matches took place last night (June 26, Vietnam time), all four teams had 3 points after two matches. However, Ukraine eventually had to say goodbye to Euro 2024 after a goalless draw with Belgium on the evening of June 26 and was eliminated due to a losing goal difference.

Giành 4 điểm, Ukraine bị loại ở bảng đấu kỳ lạ nhất Euro 2024 - 1 — Ukraine (in yellow) said goodbye to Euro 2024 after a goalless draw with Belgium, eliminated due to losing goal difference despite having the same 4 points as the other three teams (Photo: Getty).

Coach Serhiy Rebrov's team became the first team in Euro history to have the same 4 points in the group stage as their opponents but were eliminated because they finished bottom of the group.

Notably, the scenario in Group E of Euro 2024 is identical to the scenario in Group E of the 1994 World Cup held in the US exactly 30 years ago. Coincidentally, the four teams including Italy, Ireland, Mexico and Norway that year also ended the final round with two matches ending in a draw, all with 4 points.

However, when the goal difference is zero, the number of goals scored is taken into account and with this index, Mexico (3 goals), Ireland (2) and Italy (2) qualify. Norway finished bottom of the group and were eliminated due to only one goal.

At Euro 2024, the harsh 0-0 draw with Belgium in the final round eliminated Ukraine because coach Serhiy Rebrov's team had the lowest goal difference (-2) compared to Slovakia (0), Belgium (+1) and Romania (+1).

Speaking after saying goodbye to Euro 2024, coach Serhiy Rebrov still proudly declared: "We showed the character of our country. I think today was very important to show everyone that we are still fighting. This is very important for us to be represented here.

"We didn't play well in the first game, but you know, in life, you make some mistakes and then it's important how you react. I think we reacted well but unfortunately we were eliminated despite being on the same points as our opponents."