Italy secured a crucial win in the Women’s European Championship, edging past Belgium 1-0 on Thursday. Arianna Caruso’s goal just before halftime gave Italy an upper hand in Group B, where Spain, the World Cup champions, are expected to dominate. The top two teams in this group will move forward to the quarterfinals, with Italy, Belgium, and Portugal likely battling hard for that second spot.
This victory was sweet revenge for Italy, having previously lost to Belgium during the Euro 2022 group stage and coming into this match on the back of three consecutive losses to the same opponent. Adding to the emotional weight of the match, UEFA had announced a minute’s silence in memory of Portugal and Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother, who tragically passed away in a car accident in Spain. This moment of respect was observed with full reverence by the crowd at the packed Stade de Tourbillon in Sion.
The match saw a tightly contested first half, full of promising plays, but neither side managed to seriously challenge the opposing goalkeeper. Belgium’s captain and top scorer, Tessa Wullaert, posed the biggest threat and came closest to scoring five minutes before the break with a shot that was first blocked and then narrowly missed the left post.
Just a few minutes later, Italy managed to break the deadlock. Lucia Di Guglielmo spotted Caruso left unmarked on the edge of the area, and the Bayern Munich midfielder took advantage, cutting in from the left side of the box to curl the ball into the top corner. This put Italy ahead, and the team carried that momentum into the second half.
Cristiana Girelli nearly extended Italy’s lead in spectacular fashion in the 64th minute. Her clever back-heeled attempt from close range was met with a quick reflex save from Belgium’s goalkeeper, Lisa Lichtfus, who managed to deflect the ball away with her foot. The resulting rebound fell to Caruso, but her shot went just wide.
In the dying moments of the game, Lichtfus pulled off another important save to deny substitute Michela Cambiaghi, as Italy continued to press for a second goal to secure their lead. Despite several opportunities, Italy couldn’t extend their advantage, but their defense held strong against Belgium’s attempts to equalize.
Overall, the match was a tense and thrilling encounter, with Italy ultimately securing a vital win in their quest to progress in the tournament. The Italian team hasn’t made it past the knockout stage since 2013, so this victory was a significant step forward in their campaign. The competition in Group B remains fierce, but Italy’s win over Belgium certainly puts them in a promising position as they move forward.
