Belgium’s national football team secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 after defeating Italy 1-0 on July 18, 2022. The victory, sealed by a goal from Tine De Caigny in the 49th minute, eliminated Italy from the tournament and set up a quarter-final clash between Belgium and Sweden.
How Belgium Advanced to the Quarter-Finals
The decisive match took place at the Manchester City Academy Stadium, where Belgium needed a win to progress from Group D. According to the official match report from UEFA, Tine De Caigny scored the only goal of the game early in the second half, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the Italian side.
Despite sustained pressure from Italy in the closing stages of the match, Belgium’s defense held firm. This result ensured Belgium finished second in Group D with four points, trailing group winners France. For Italy, the loss marked the end of their campaign, as they finished at the bottom of the group with a single point.
Who Does Belgium Face Next?
Following their victory over Italy, Belgium advanced to face Sweden in the quarter-finals of the tournament. The match was scheduled for July 22, 2022, at the Leigh Sports Village. Sweden entered the knockout stage as the winners of Group C, having demonstrated strong form throughout the group phase.
Tournament Context and Group D Standings
The UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 group stage concluded with a clear distinction between the advancing teams and those eliminated. The final standings for Group D were:
* France: 7 points
* Belgium: 4 points
* Iceland: 3 points
* Italy: 1 point
Belgium’s progression represented a significant milestone for the program, marking their first time reaching the knockout stages of a major tournament. While the provided prompt referenced an incorrect scoreline of 1-4, official records from UEFA confirm the final match score was 1-0 in favor of Belgium.
Key Takeaways
* Decisive Goal: Tine De Caigny scored the match-winning goal in the 49th minute.
* Tournament Standing: The win allowed Belgium to leapfrog Iceland and Italy to secure second place in Group D.
* Next Opponent: Belgium moved on to play Sweden in the quarter-finals on July 22, 2022.
* Elimination: Italy exited the tournament after failing to secure a win in their three group stage matches.