2023-12-06 06:36:00
There was no new exploit from the Red Flames in the winter atmosphere of the Willem II Stadion. And they even came close to avoiding a heavy defeat. And given the offensive intentions of the Dutch, finally qualified for the Final Four after a distant fight with England (who crushed Scotland 6-0), it was already a small victory before Evrard left his place in Lemey and Roord plants the fourth.
Until the end, they will have played their role of outsider and referee in a competition that has smiled on them so much in recent weeks. They will be able to rejoice in it. But what more could we expect anyway for this last day of the Women’s Nations League? Just reading the pedigree of the Dutch opponents, with at least 80% playing the group stage of the Champions League, obviously, it is difficult to compete and have more ambition than just resist the wave orange. Even more so when Andries Jonkers can count on his number one goalkeeper and the return of star Miedema, who will certainly have a word to say to his English partner, Beth Mead, who scored for the Lionesses at Hampden Park…
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And then the Belgians, away from home, have not often shone in their history against nations of this caliber.
A rather satisfactory result
Belgium finished with eight points in six matches and this remains an exceptional record when we see the group into which it was placed. But this group stage will still leave a taste of too little. Because beating England and the Netherlands at home is good, but two points against Scotland is far too little.
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If we were pleased to have had warriors during the victories against the last two European champion nations, leaving aside this inferiority complex typical of the “little Belgians”, the lower degree of intensity during the last two outings gave us left us a little hungry.
Future adversaries within their reach
Now all eyes are on Monday to find out the opponent in the Nations League. Belgium finishes third and will have to play a play-off in February to stay in League A. It will be either Serbia, Hungary, Bosnia or Croatia, opponents having finished second in their group in League B. Nations on affordable paper for Ives Serneels’ players even if they have not necessarily accustomed us to shining against less well ranked competitors.
But there will be no choice if they want a less complicated path in the Euro 2025 qualifications.
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