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Following the conclusion of Group E action at Euro 2024, Belgium joins former winners Spain, Germany, Portugal and France in a loaded first half of the draw. The Belgians drew goalless with Ukraine in their final group game on Wednesday (June 26) in Stuttgart.
In a largely dull affair for a vast majority of the 90 minutes, the game only came to life in the final few moments when Ukraine went for it, knowing that anything but a win would knock them out.
Belgium also had their moments on the counterattack, but eventually both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils as the European Championships saw a group with four teams finishing with four points each for the first time. The last such instance at a major tournament came at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where Mexico, Northern Ireland, Italy finished 1-2-3 respectively, while Norway got eliminated.
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Coming back to Euro 2024, Belgium's draw meant they finished behind group winners Romania, booking a clash with 2000 champions France in the Round of 16.
Interestingly, Germany, Portugal and Spain are also in the same half of the draw, with hosts Germany to take on 1992 champions Denmark, while La Roja and A Selecao await their Round of 16 opponents.
Euro 2024 Round of 16 action kicks off on Saturday (June 29) with Switzerland-Italy in Berlin and Germany-Denmark in Dortmund.
Euro 2024: Portugal and Spain to learn their Round of 16 opponents after Group F concludes
Euro 2016 champions Portugal conclude their group-stage campaign at Euro 2024 against Georgia in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday (June 26), knowing that they have already qualified for the knockouts as group winners.
They are set to face the third-placed team in Group A or C on July 2 in Frankfurt. Meanwhile, three-time winners Spain are slated to face the third-placed team in Group A, D, E or F.
The exact matchups will be determined when Group F action - Portugal vs Georgia and Turkey vs Czech Republic concludes later in the day. A Selecao and La Roja could meet in the semifinals, as per the draw.
However, before that, they might have to go through France and Spain respectively in rematches of the 2008 and 2016 finals.
