Belgium started the Women’s European Championship on Thursday with a narrow defeat. In the Stade de Tourbillon in Sion, Italy was too strong with 0-1.
Arianna Caruso scored the only goal just before halftime. The Italian midfielder controlled the ball cleverly in the penalty area, cut inside and then shot into the top corner.
Caruso’s goal was not exactly expected, as both Italy and Belgium played quite defensively. Belgium attacked after halftime, but barely managed to create danger with former Eredivisie top scorer Tessa Wullaert.
It is Belgium’s third participation ever in the European Championship. In 2017, the group stage was the final destination in the Netherlands. In 2022, the Red Flames stranded in the quarter-finals against eventual European champion England.
A minute of silence was observed before Belgium-Italy in memory of the deceased Diogo Jota (28) and his younger brother André Silva. The two Portuguese died in a traffic accident in Zamora, Spain on Thursday.
The Portuguese women’s team will play against reigning world champion Spain on Thursday evening. Those two countries are in the same group as Belgium and Italy.