Belgium throws out Italy and will play the quarterfinals of the Euro against Sweden

Belgium dismantled Italy’s rigid tactical approach with a goal from De Caigny in the 49th minute to surprise the ‘azzurra’, climb to second position in group D and meet Sweden in the quarterfinals on Friday (9:00 p.m.). The ‘azzurra’ was able to contain the offensive potential of the combined Sernelly in the first part but he accused his lack of offensive resources in static when he had to attack. After his goal, Belgium knew how to neutralize the desperate crosses and long balls of the Milena Bertolini, that still had a Girelli crossbar. Until this Euro, Belgium had only been in the group stage of Holland 2017, so they will play a knockout in a European for the first time.

Italy and Belgium thought of each other before themselves, in conditioning the rival’s way of being before claiming theirs. Abundance of control, scarcity of risk. The ambitious first 10 minutes of the ‘azzurra’, accumulating players in the rival field -especially on the right-, were just an attempt to see what could fall. The balance of occasions was unfavorable for those of Milena Bertolini: Girelli scared with a long shot wide after Belgium’s loss at the start but Ives Serneels’s side intimidated more: a shot from Eurlings deflected after a bad pass from the Italians in the initial phase and a good shot from dhont the center of Wullaert.

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The madness consumed, Italy was now the one that had to arm itself with calm and patience to find the two goals he needed to not leave the Euro. The questions accumulated to the ‘azzurra’ before the brazen low block raised by Belgium, which went on to copy the old and mischievous Italian formula. The band openings to Boattin y Bonfantini they were sterile, both launching directly into the center without challenging their pair one-on-one. The Belgian team came out judiciously when they recovered but fell into disarray after the dividing line without managing to anesthetize the match with prolonged possessions and Italy had no major complications to recover.

All the interesting offensive production from Bertolini’s side came from Belgian losses resulting in transitions and, in one of these, Hyacinths -one of the fresh players in the second half-, won her back against the Belgian defense and forced a skilful intervention from Evrard in the 78th minute. Wullaert sent an elegant shot to the post and, at the same time that the tranquility increased for Belgium, the italian despair with innocuous centers and long balls to the area. The end of the contest was a distressing discount for the ‘azzurra’ towards elimination and a pleasant countdown to the quarterfinals for Belgium, which will meet Sweden on Friday (21:00).

Datasheet

Italy 0-1 Belgium

Italia: Giuliani; Di Guglielmo (Bonfantini, 46 ‘), Bartoli, Linari, Boattin; Bergamaschi (Cernoia, 80 ‘), Rosucci (Caruso, 58’), Simonetti (Giacinti, 68 ‘), Giugliano; Bonansea; Girelli (Sabatino, 80 ‘), Bertolini.

Belgium: Evrard; Vangheluwe (Deloose, 66′), Kees, Biesmans, Philtjens; Cayman (Kassandra, 90′) Vanhaervermaet, De Caigny; Dhont (Minnaert, 59′), Eurlings (Delacauw, 66′), Wullaert, Serneels.

Goals: 0-1, De Caigny, min 49.

Cards: Boattin, min 65.

Referee: Ivana Martincic (Croatia).

Spectators: 3.919 en el Manchester City Academy Stadium.