Spain 6 Belgium 2
July 7 – With a dominant performance and four second-half goals, Spain defeated a combative Belgium 6-2 in a Group B goal feast that left their opponents on the brink of elimination.
In an action-packed encounter, Belgium posed questions from set pieces and in transition, but Spain always found the right answer. The Belgian fight was admirable but ultimately futile against a dominant and clinical Spain who underlined their title credentials.
Manager Montse Tome introduced Irene Paredes for Maria Mendez, leaving Aitana Bonati on the bench. Predictably, in rainy Thun, the Spanish monopolised the ball and it was always going to be matter of time before they scored against a deep Belgian block with striker Tessa Wullaert the only outlet up front.
Claudia Pina of Spain celebrates scoring her team’s fifth goal
Belgium held out for 22 minutes when Mariona Caldentey’s reverse pass found Vicky Lopez on the edge of the box. The teenager teed up Alexia Putellas, whose crisp finish left the Belgian goalkeeper no chance. It was Spain at their best, exploiting the space with gossamer skills. Last season, Caldentey dominated Arsenal’s midfield; Putellas reminded everyone why she has two Ballon d’Ors to her name and Lopez’s assist added to her credentials as a breakout star.
Belgian could have crumbled, but instead they defied the script. Two minutes later, the underdogs were level. Wullaert whipped in a corner from the left and Justine Vanhaevermaet towered high to get to the ball first and nod into an empty net. It was the perfect response from Belgium.
Spain were unshaken and maintained control with both Esther Gonzalez and Irene Paredes providing danger. In the 39th minute, the Spanish captain, who had not featured against Portugal because of a red-card suspension, drifted round the back, shook off her marker and headed home with power. It was a reminder for Belgium to keep their discipline or get punished.
Justine Vanhaevermaet scores Belgium’s equaliser
Spain were camped on the edge of Belgian area and on the brink of half-time, Lopez’s shot almost settled the match only for Jill Janssens to clear the ball off the line. Belgium were still in the match, but the arrival of Aitana Bonmati, arguably the best player in the world, was not about to make things easier. She replaced Lopez who had once again proven her maturity and attacking strength in her 45-minute outing. Bonmati’s impact was immediate with a dangerous daisy cutter.
But Belgium defied logic again with a second equaliser. Transitioning, Hannah Eurlings shrugged off her marker and slammed the ball home via the inside of the post in the 51st minute. After a hint of offside, VAR confirmed the goal. Belgium’s joy was short-lived. A minute later, Spain were in the lead for a third time.
Salma Paralluelo of Spain runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Elena Dhont
Once again, Belgium’s defending was too lax and so Gonzalez, industrious as ever, burst forward to fire Spain’s third past the Belgium goalkeeper after an assist from Putellas. Just after the hour mark, Spain decided the match after the ball pin-balled in the box before before Caldentey got it in, 4-2.
There was no coming back for Belgium. La Roja were relentless, turning the match into a game of cat and mouse, and kept the best for a last with Pina’s 81st-minute curler that zipped past the Belgian goalkeeper and into the top corner. And still, it was not over. Putellas scored a deserved goal when she worked the ball into the net with the outside of her boot from close range. In a frantic finale, Belgium had a goal chalked off for offside, but by then Spain were out of range.
In their opening two matches, the Spanish have scored ten goals and they are closing in on England’s 2022 record of 14 strikes for most goals in the group stages. It wasn’t perfect from Spain, but even so, the result and performance were once again a measure of how difficult they will be to beat.
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