The Belgium head coach, Domenico Tedesco, condemned the local organisation after a 0-0 draw against Ukraine on Wednesday, a result which secured qualification for a tie against France in the last 16.
“We arrived at the stadium in circumstances I never saw before,” Tedesco said. “It took one hour to come from the hotel with a police escort. The road was completely free, but they slowed down to 20-25km/h. Every traffic light was red. I had two minutes to make a preparation talk and we had to reduce the warmup. It’s unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable …”
That was not the only issue that had annoyed him. “Everything is happening here,” Tedesco said. “Everything is allowed. We can have a delay of one hour and not delay the game for 15 minutes. There were laser pens being shone in our eyes. There were many things in the first game … and we still qualified, that’s why I’m so proud of the players.”
Belgium’s fans were not of the same opinion, booing the team as the players went to applaud them. “Of course we are a little bit surprised,” Tedesco said.
“For us it was very important to qualify. We lost the first game and then things are not that easy, because if you concede one goal you are out. I have no message for the fans other than that we need them.”
But while that sounded conciliatory, his subsequent comment – that they could be more supportive in the way Romania’s fans had been when they went 2-0 down against Belgium – is unlikely to be well received.
For Serhiy Rebrov, the Ukraine head coach, there was the familiar task of trying to place a result and a performance in the context of Ukraine’s war with Russia. “It is important for our country that we continue to represent them,” he said.
“We showed the character of our nation. We are nearly 900 days in the war, and today it was important to show the people in Europe and our country that we are still fighting, that we are part of Europe.
“I’m proud of the players. Everybody in Ukraine is unhappy with the score but no problems with the players. We are continuing our championships – three leagues for the men, two for the women. Of course many stadiums have been destroyed but we have to live like this now.
“It’s important for the people to show we are still alive, we are fighting and will not stop. We understand, and I hope Europe understands as well, we are fighting for Europe not just Ukraine.”
