No semifinals for the Red Flames. They went down against Sweden in the worst possible way. In the 92nd minute Linda Sembrant made the 1-0. This way there will be no icing on the cake for the Belgians, who can go home with their heads held high. For the first time in their history, they played the quarterfinals of a European Championship and held the world number two in check for 91 minutes.
No semifinals for the Red Flames. They went down against Sweden in the worst possible way. In the 92nd minute Linda Sembrant made the 1-0. This way there will be no icing on the cake for the Belgians, who can go home with their heads held high. For the first time in their history, they played the quarterfinals of a European Championship and held the world number two in check for 91 minutes.
Sweden against the Red Flames. That is the number 2 in the world against the number 19. A team full of stars from Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern Munich against a team of which the majority is only semi-pro. A team that has been present at all previous European Championships against the Flames who only made it to their second European Championship. So David versus Goliath. Even before the game, the difference between the two teams became painfully clear. While several hundred Swedish fans arrived in groups at the Leigh Sports Village more than an hour and a half before the match to surround the players’ buses, there were no Belgian fans yet. In the stadium’s catacombs, the music in the Flames’ locker room was silenced by the volume pumping the Swedish speakers.
Pre-signed for rest position
And also on the pitch, the difference in individual quality quickly became apparent. Kosovare Asllani dribbled past a Red Flame on more than one occasion in the pouring rain and a sold-out stadium and was a real scourge for the defence. Nicky Evrard soon had to unpack with a save after a header from Ilestedt. Twice in the first half there was also a fight for Evrard’s goal, but each time she made a great save. What a tournament the Belgian goalie has completed.
Once she was beaten after Swedish goalkeeper Lindahl launched a nice counter towards deep striker Blackstenius. She was only allowed to charge towards goal and worked coolly past Evrard, but the goal was disallowed for narrow offside. The Flames thus made it to halftime with 0-0, a score they had undoubtedly signed up for beforehand.
But a cursing national coach Ives Serneels was not satisfied with the game. The Flames made too many mistakes individually. Cayman and Philtjens were often sloppy in the passing, Deloose was swimming at right back at times and De Caigny was also unable to continue.
The build-up from backwards also did not always work out for the Flames because the Swedes put too much pressure and the Belgians immediately lock them up. Too often the Flames made the wrong choices in the little time the Swedes allowed them. Wullaert became frustrated because she got too few usable balls and, just like in previous matches, quickly dropped into midfield to recover balls – even from the right back where Deloose was often passed – and to divide the game with Vanhaevermaet. . On the half hour that resulted in the Flames’ first chance after Wullaert had gone deep and found De Caigny in the sixteen. She made it to Vanhaevermaet, but her shot flew wide. After that, Cayman narrowly missed a good pass from Wullaert.
In the second half, the Belgians were again pushed back by the Swedes. After a few minutes they again escaped the 1-0. This time Ilestedt headed into the crossbar. It was gradually sinking or sinking and so Serneels intervened. Elena Dhont came in for Deloose, pushing Cayman to right back. The Swedes kept pressing, but bit their teeth on the good organization of the Belgians. And when they did get through again, Evard stood firm again.
These Flames didn’t give up easily throughout the tournament and also kept fighting against the Swedes until the last minute. It was hoped for that one deadly outbreak of the Flames, but Dhont got no further than the side net.
Corner denies Flames
The match seemed to be heading for extra time, but in the 92nd minute the Flames conceded a goal, again on a stagnant phase. Linda Sembrant shot the 1-0 against the nets. Sweden to the semifinals.
No icing on the cake for the Red Flames, who did finish a good tournament and can go home with their heads held high. A big victory was expected for them in Sweden in advance, but in the end it was very narrow. The Flames showed that they must be taken into account in the future and that their plan beforehand was the right one. Although immediately after the final whistle, tears of disappointment mainly flowed from the Belgians. After all, they were so close to it.
But the semi-final next Tuesday against host country England is for the Swedes, who made it to the last four after three consecutive eliminations in the quarter finals.
Again and again Nicky Evrard made a great save. What a tournament the Belgian goalie has had.
