Belgium reach Euro 2022 quarter-finals, France held by Iceland

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Belgium secured the last spot in the Euro 2022 quarter-finals as Tina De Caigny’s goal beat Italy 1-0 in sweltering temperatures in Manchester on Monday. The Hoffenheim striker’s predatory finish early in the second half made sure of second place in Group B behind France to set up a last eight meeting with Sweden on Friday. Despite scoring a late penalty, a 1-1 draw for Iceland against a much-changed France was not enough for them to progress as they became the first side to bow out of a women’s Euro from the group stage unbeaten.

In just their second ever major tournament, Belgium reached the knockout phase for the first time to round off a miserable few weeks for Italy. “This is a historic night for Belgian women’s football,” said Belgium coach Ives Serneels. “This might be the best moment yet.

It has been a long time in the making. “I’ve been with the Belgian women’s national team for 11 years now, so I’m ecstatic that we’re going to the quarter-finals.” Hopes had been high for the Azzurre given Juventus’ promising run in the Champions League last season and the upcoming professionalization of the women’s Serie A. However, they failed to recover from shipping five goals in the first half to France in their opening game.

“We lacked calmness,” said Italy coach Milena Bertolini. “We put too much pressure on ourselves.” That 5-1 defeat meant Italy needed to win to progress due to their inferior goal difference to both Belgium and Iceland. Chances were few and far between in a first half affected by the conditions with temperatures reaching 36 degrees celsius as a heatwave hit Britain on Monday.