2 months ago
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26 mins: Portugal do well again in possession and they try to create something on the right before Amado loses the ball Toloba looks to take it clear but is fouled.
24 mins: Portugal work a promising position but then the pass goes straight out of play.
22 mins: Portugal are not in this match at the moment. They, once again, look very meek. They were good in the final 20 minutes against Italy when they upped their intensity and aggression, but have reverted to type.
20 mins: A poor clearance from Costa sends the ball straight up in the air. Morais comes out to punch but incredibly flappy fashion. She need not worry as the referee takes pity on her and awards a free-kick.
18 mins: Belgium have a corner on the left. Wullaert takes it but the ball basically goes straight out of play.
Diana Silva has a shot from about 30 yards but there is no power in it and the goalkeeper puts her hat on it.
16 mins: Teulings is basically allowed to run the ball back all the way to her own goalkeeper without being challenged. Portugal need to up it here.
14 mins: Spain have levelled against Italy. That is the battle for top spot.
Follow that here.
12 mins: Wullaert cuts in from the left and almost plays the perfect pass through the eye of a needle but it about two inches in front of Vanhaevermaet and she cannot control it.
10 mins: Italy are beating Spain …
So at the moment, Portugal are going out regardless. Not exactly gripping stuff.
8 mins: Belgium seem to be the more relaxed team, aided by the knowledge they have nothing of note to play for.
6 mins: Portugal get up the pitch for the first time. Nazareth gets into the box but cannot muster a chance after being crowded out.
A corner is won and is punched behind for another by Lichtfus.
GOAL! Janssens gets down the right and sends in a low cross. Wullaert times her run perfectly and slides in, poking the ball into the corner. Is this group done and dusted?
GOAL! Portugal 0-1 Belgium (Wullaert, 3)
That’s a fine finish!
2 mins: Belgium make the early running and Vanhaevermaet has a good chance, heading a cross towards goal which Morais does well to hold onto.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
The players are out on the pitch. Cue the anthems.
Some cracking shots, in every sense, coming in.
Phwoar.
Get to know the teams.
The coaches are relaxed.
Starting lineups
Portugal (3-5-2): Morais; Gomes, Costa, F Pinto; Amado, Norrton, T Pinto, Nazareth, Marchao; Capeta, Di Silva
Subs: Pereira, Cota-Yarde, Alves, Seica, Jacinto, J Silva, Do Silva, Faria, Correira, Fonseca, Encarnacao
Belgium (5-3-2): Lichtfus; Janssens, Tysiak, Kees, Cayman, Deloose; Toloba, Vanhaevermaet, Teulings; Wullaert, Blom
Subs: Evrard, Bastiaen, Philtjens, Van Kerkhoven, Wijnants, De Caigny, Eurlings, Dhont, Mertens, Iliano, Detruyer, Missipo
Lively in Sion.
Preamble
The equation is not particularly easy for Portugal. They need to beat Belgium and hope Spain do the same to Italy. To make matters more complicated, they need a six-goal swing to move into second. How hard can it be?
Portugal were pretty underwhelming in their first match, getting a bit of a shooing by Spain and followed that up with 70 meek minutes against Italy before coming to life as they chased a goal. They need to keep the momentum gained in those latter stages, be more direct and aggressive to give themselves a chance here.
Belgium are playing for pride and – to a lesser extent – to help out Italy. Spain will be more than happy to steamroller the Italians, so the margins could be tight come the end of 90 minutes.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
