STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) -Reaction after Belgium drew 0-0 with Ukraine in Euro 2024 Group E on Wednesday:
Belgium captain and man of the match Kevin De Bruyne: “We would rather have won and we are in a difficult phase, but so be it. We need to recuperate. We are the underdog against them (last-16 opponents France).”
“I’m very happy with how the team played. We deserved to have won. It was difficult – with just one goal we could have gone out.”
“We are not the favourites (versus France) but if you want to win the Euros you need to beat everyone. It is clear we are in the tough side of the draw.”
Belgium defender Wout Faes: “That we’ve qualified is the most important. We created chances in the first half. It’s clear we would love to have won the match. We will need to be at 110% against France.”
Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco: “Of course we were a little bit surprised. Today was a tough one, we knew they would play, 1-1 or 0-0, message was clear, we wanted to play and wanted to win. Players tried everything.
“If fans are whistling we have to accept, they can be disappointed, players don’t understand, they are qualified. This is most important thing to us. Ukraine had nothing to lose…in the end they tried everything. To us it was clear, if we concede one goal, we are out.”
Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov: “Unfortunately, we didn’t not qualify because of the first game.”
“Not only 3 points, but after 1-0, 2-0, we didn’t wake up.”
“Everybody saw we were trying to win, create chances, there were moments.”
“Unfortunately we were playing one of the top teams, it was very tough.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy: “A strong nation is one that maintains unity and in which people always help one another. Both in times of defeat and in times of victory. Today, we thank the Ukrainian national soccer team. Despite the disappointing result, you fought for our country. Our victories still lie ahead. Victories for Ukraine. For now, let us stand firm, rise up and move forward to become stronger in the future.”
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond)
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