World champions Spain clinched their place within the knockout rounds of the Women’s European Championship as they thrashed Belgium 6-2.
La Roja are the favourites to elevate the trophy and underlined that standing with an emphatic victory that confirmed Belgium’s exit from the match.
Alexia Putellas opened the scoring by lashing house within the twenty second minute on the finish of a wonderfully labored transfer, just for Justine Vanhaevermaet to nod Belgium stage 4 minutes later with a header from a near-post nook.
Irene Paredes rose to revive Spain’s lead six minutes earlier than half-time with a strong header from Claudia Pina’s nook. Nevertheless, Belgium responded once more 5 minutes after the second-half restart, Hannah Eurlings levelling after being performed by means of by strike associate Tessa Wullaert.
Esther Gonzalez completed confidently into the bottom-left nook to offer Spain the benefit for a 3rd time following glorious work from Putellas, and from there they didn’t let up.
Mariona Caldentey netted from close-range simply after the hour mark and Pina put the sport past doubt with a elegant curling effort into the top-right nook within the 81st minute.
Claudia Pina displaying why Spain are the match favourites 👏 pic.twitter.com/3f5Uv9bxrE
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 7, 2025
The instrumental Putellas fittingly had the ultimate say by flicking house to double her tally, the Barcelona star registering her fourth purpose involvement as Spain breezed to victory.
Portugal 1-1 Italy
Spain’s place within the final eight was confirmed as Portugal and Italy performed out a dramatic 1-1 draw.
Italy regarded to have sealed a spot within the quarter-finals when Claudia Girelli bent house a surprising Seventieth-minute opener from the sting of the world.
Diana Silva appeared to have equalised when she fired in on the rebound after hitting the submit with a header, paying tribute to compatriot Diogo Jota together with her celebration.
Nevertheless, her effort was dominated out as VAR confirmed Silva had strayed narrowly offside.
However Portugal did discover an emotional 89th-minute leveller as Dolores Silva pulled again for Diana Gomes, who looped an unconventional end over Laura Giuliani.
DIANA GOMES! 🇵🇹
It loops over the keeper as Portugal discover a late equaliser pic.twitter.com/PZjcCB5uQl
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) July 7, 2025
Portugal captain Ana Borges was despatched off within the 96th minute after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Italy’s Barbara Bonansea, however the Azzurri couldn’t discover a winner.
The consequence retains Portugal’s hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals alive, however they need to beat Belgium and hope Italy lose to Spain with a seven-goal swing in purpose distinction to make it to the knockout levels.
