Euro 2025 daily newsletter: Day seven
Spain march into quarter-finals and Belgium knocked out
As the second round of Group B wrapped up, one team is shining brighter than the others.
Spain holds a special place in my heart as I studied abroad in Granada last year, so perhaps bias is playing into this, but Spain genuinely look like they are going to win the title. They look terrifyingly good. And the scary part is, they haven’t even played their best football yet, and there is more to come as the tournament progresses. For now, the reigning World Cup champions look well on course to become European champions.
Results
Spain 6 Belgium 2
Spain may not have scored within a minute and a half like in their previous match, but they still managed to score six goals and were dominant throughout the game. Spain applied relentless, threatening pressure on Belgium’s defence from the first whistle. Despite some good defending from Belgium, Spain inevitably opened the scoring – a trademark left-footed finish from Alexia Putellas. This prompted what was essentially a back-and-forth exchange of goals between the teams – almost table tennis-like. Justine Vanhaevermaet scored a header from an amazing corner from Tessa Wullaert to level the score, and then Spain’s Irene Paredes scored a near-identical goal at the other end of the pitch.
Half-time saw Aitana Bonmatí come on for Vicky Lopez, and Hannah Eurlings scored for Belgium in the 50th minute. A couple of minutes later, Esther González scored, followed by goals from Mariona Caldentey, Claudia Pina, and a second for Putellas – bringing Spain’s total to six. Belgium thought they had scored a third in the final minutes, but it was ruled offside.
Heading into their final group stage match against Italy, they scored five in the first game, six in the second – will they score seven in the next to continue the pattern? Bonmatí will be wanting to get her name on the scoresheet, and at the moment, the Spanish players are battling it out to see who in the squad will win the Golden Boot. Spain’s set pieces were near-perfect, and that is going to be a key factor for any team that ends up playing them.
Read more: Spain hit six past Belgium in end-to-end clash
Portugal 1 Italy 1
Late drama in Geneva! Italy had a disallowed goal before half-time, leaving the score level at the break. Cristiana Girelli put Italy in the lead with an absolute screamer of a goal, struck at 89km/h. Portugal responded quickly, but it was also ruled offside. Eventually, Diana Gomes was the hero – scoring a crucial equaliser in the 89th minute. It was a well-deserved goal from the team, made even more poignant as Portugal marked their first of the tournament in an emotional aftermath of Diogo Jota’s tragic passing. With this draw, both teams remain in the hunt for second place in Group B, while Belgium are officially eliminated after two losses.
News
Portugal’s Kika Nazareth made her first start after suffering an ankle injury and having to have surgery back in March. The Barcelona star managed 80 minutes against Italy
Portugal’s Joana Marchão was subbed off in the 64th minute for what seems like an injury-related issue
Ana Borges was given a red card in the 96th minute, meaning she will be suspended for Portugal’s next game against Belgium
What’s on today
Group C
Germany vs Denmark - 17:00 BST, St Jakob-Park, Basel
Poland vs Sweden - 20:00 BST, Swissporarena, Lucerne
If Germany beat Denmark and Sweden beat Poland, both teams will progress to the quarter-finals. Denmark and Poland are fighting to stay alive in the competition, with Poland looking to secure their first-ever win at the Euros.
Catch up on The Cutback
Yash Thakur looks at an impressive Swiss side who secured a historic 2-0 win against Iceland.
Sion Misra on the Red Wall that spurred on Wales in Luzern.