Romania, Belgium and Slovakia advanced into last 16 at Euro 2024 on Wednesday while Ukraine lost out on goal difference as the first team to go out with four points since the event was played in its current format.
In an unprecedented scenario, all four Group E teams finished level on four points after Belgium and Ukraine drew 0-0 in Stuttgart and Romania and Slovakia 1-1 in rainy Frankfurt.
Belgium were largely unconvincing again and always had to be alert because a Ukraine victory could have eliminated them, and they were jeered at the final whistle by their fans.
Romelu Lukaku came close twice and Yannick Carrasco also threatened for the Red Devils. Ukraine's best chances were an almost directly converted corner kick from Ruslan Malinvoskyi with 10 minutes left and a stoppage-time effort from Georgiy Sudakov.
There had been speculation that Romania and Slovakia would settle for a draw from the outset because it would send both through, regardless of the outcome of the other match.
But both camps dismissed this, and Ondrej Duda headed Slovakia ahead in the 24th. Razvan Marin levelled from the penalty spot 13 minutes later, and both sides had chances to win it.
Goal difference makes the difference
Romania won the group with 4-3 goals to Belgium's 2-1, with Slovakia on 3-3 and Ukraine out on 2-4 because they finished last - despite garnering more points than other teams that advanced.
Romania move into a first knock-out match since 2000 against a third-place finisher where Nicusor Bancu will be suspended.
Kevin De Bruyne's Belgium face a intriguing duel with Kylian Mbappe's France, and Slovakia's opponent is not known either.
Failure not an option
"We knew today, we couldn't fail. The message was clear, we wanted to play and try to win. The players tried everything. We can score earlier, we can score more, then many things are easier," Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco said.
"I'm proud of my team because they did well at the end – if you concede one goal, you are out."
Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov told Magenta TV: "It was tough today. I am happy that my players tried to win. We did our best. Belgium are just good, they have great players.
"Unfortunately we lost the group in the first match," he added in reference to a 3-0 defeat against Romania.
Belgium start well in Tintin kit
Belgium were playing for the first time at the Euros in their Tintin kit of blue shirts, brown shorts and white socks, a hommage to the famous Belgian comic book hero who conquered the world.
Lukaku, who had three goals disallowed after video reviews in the first two matches, had an early chance to break his drought but his tight angle effort from the left was parried by Anatoliy Trubin.
Roman Yaremchuk tried his luck from a distance for Ukraine, who needed a win, and so did Artem Dovbyk whose shot a minute later on a promising counter-attack wet far right.
De Bruyne almost surprised Trubin with a free-kick which went into the side-netting while at the other end Yaremchuk tried to feed Dovbyk when he should have shot himself.
Lukaku missed De Bruyne's sharp ball across the goalmouth shortly after the restart, Lukaku's shot in the 64th was too harmless, and a drive from substitute Carrasco was well saved by Trubin.
Ukraine finally threw caution to the wind and were almost rewarded with 10 minutes left when Malinovskyi's corner was pushed out by Koen Casteels on the goalline, and Casteels then also saved in stoppage time from Sudakov.
Slovakia draw first blood but Romania fight back
In Frankfurt, Romania threatened first from Adrei Ratiu, whose shot was palmed away by Martin Dubravka, with Ianis Hagi aiming high and wide on the rebound.
But it was Slovakia who drew first blood when Duda had plenty of space at the far post to head home Juraj Kucka's long ball from the the right back across goal into the far corner.
The goal moved Slovakia top and dropped Romania from first to last in the live standings but the old order was soon restored when Marin smashed the penalty into the top left corner after a video review determined that Hagi was fouled inside the area by David Hancko.
Romania threatened again as a thunderstorm with torrential rain set in after the break, with Marin denied by Dubravka and Denis Dragus firing just over the bar seconds later.
Not to be outdone, Slovakia's David Strelec almost caught Romania's Florin Nita wrong-footed, and team-mate Lukas Haraslin curled just wide right before both sides could celebrate after the final whistle.
Delight on both sides
"It's incredible, I hope this continues. I want to congratulate my players, we found a spirit and don't have to lose it again," Romania coach Edward Iordanescu said.
Slovakia captain Milan Škriniar said: "To be in the top 16 teams is great. This progression belongs to the fans as they helped us a lot today."
