Ukraine v Belgium: Euro 2024 – live

Ukraine: Veteran midfielder Taras Stepanenko knows his team carry a responsibility beyond the pitch as they face Belgium, writes Jonathan Wilson.

“It may be his achievements with Ukraine at this Euros have a significance that ­reverberate far beyond anything he has achieved at club level in 14 years at Shkhtar Donetsk,” says our man in Dusseldorf.

Today’s match officials

• Referee: Anthony Taylor

• Referee’s assistants: Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn

• Fourth official: Glen Nyberg

• Video assistant referee: Stuart Attwell

Early team news

Ukraine have a fairly clean bill of health, with Everton left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko likely to start after recovering from injury so Oleksandr Zinchenko can play in midfield. Girona winger Viktor Tsyganov is reported to be carrying a knock, which means Andriy Yarmolenko could start again. Anatoliy Trubin is likely to keep his place in goal after his excellent performance against Slovakia.

Belgium must do without Axel Witsel and Thomas Meunier, who are both sidelined with muscle injuries, while winger Dodi Lukebakio is suspended after picking up two yellow cards for diving. One of Johan Bakeyoko or Leandro Tossard is expected to deputise for the Sevilla simulation specialist.

With all four sides on three points after their first two fixtures, this group could scarcely be more finely poised but Ukraine currently sit bottom by dint of their inferior goal difference. They came from behind to beat Slovakia last time out, while Belgium were 2-0 winners over Romania. Serhiy Rebrov’s can guarantee qualification for the knockout stages with a win over Belgium today and can win Group E if they win and get Romania don’t beat Slovakia.

A draw will ensure Ukraine finish in third place and that might be enough to see them through to the last 16 if either Romania or Slovakia win their game, but – whisper it – a draw between those sides seems likely as it would suit both nations. Indeed, Ukraine could still go through even if they lose because … well, just trust us on that one.

As for Belgium. If they win and Slovakia don’t they will top the group, but if they lose and Romania get a point they will exit the tournament in ignominy. Everything is very much to play for in Stuttgart and kick-off is at 5pm (BST).