Belgium faced a mixed reception from their fans as they booked their place in the last 16 of Euro 2024. Despite securing a spot in the knockout stage, there were no celebrations to be seen in Stuttgart. Instead, captain Kevin de Bruyne and his teammates were jeered by frustrated supporters following a goalless draw with Ukraine.

One particular incident during the match fueled the fans' discontent. In the dying minutes of the game, De Bruyne chose to play a corner short, opting for a safer approach rather than attempting to score from the set-piece. This decision was met with intense booing from the Belgium supporters, who were hoping for a victory.

Explaining his cautious move, De Bruyne stated, "There is one minute left of the game, so you don't want to take any risks. Sometimes you need to be smart, and in that situation, we needed to be smart, definitely." However, this move only deepened the divide between the players and their disgruntled fans.

Belgium finished as runners-up in Group E, behind Romania, with four points from three matches. This means that Domenico Tedesco's squad will face World Cup finalists France in the next round. Unfortunately, the strained relationship between the team and their supporters casts a shadow of uncertainty over their upcoming crucial last-16 tie.

De Bruyne, despite the friction, expressed his belief in the fans' importance, stating, "We just need them, you know? We will need them against France like we needed them in the last three games." The plea for support comes after the Belgium players endured heavy jeering as they left the field, with De Bruyne himself being booed despite being named Man of the Match.

In contrast, Ukraine, despite their elimination from the competition, received warm applause from their fans for their efforts. With the same number of points as their Group E rivals, Ukraine's lower position on goal difference marked the end of their Euro 2024 journey.

Manager Tedesco, though surprised by the fans' reaction, remained unperturbed by Belgium's performances thus far, highlighting their qualification as an achievement. He acknowledged that the team could have done better but expressed pride in their resilience and ability to navigate difficult moments.

Belgium's progression to the last 16 was overshadowed by controversy and discontent. Alongside the fans' negative reception and the unimpressive performance in the goalless draw, the team faced challenges in their preparations, including an hour delay due to a slow police convoy to the stadium. Furthermore, the players had to contend with laser pointers being directed at them during the match, prompting De Bruyne to inform referee Anthony Taylor about the incident.

As Belgium gears up to face France in the knockout stage, the team must seek to repair their relationship with the supporters and regroup to deliver a performance worthy of their qualification. Only time will tell if they can rise above the controversies and unite as they strive for success in Euro 2024.