Key events
86 min: Another stoppage as Kees is hit by a high boot from Cambiaghi. Free kick to Belgium.
84 min: Italy have a free kick as Piga is clattered into by Dhont in midfield. The Italy star requires some treatment after that.
82 min: We’re into the final 10 minutes of regular time. Belgium absolutely have to start making the most of their chances.
79 min: Huge chance for Cambiaghi to seal the points! The Italy star receives a short pass on the edge of the box and looks to curl a shot into the top-left corner, but narrowly fires wide.
78 min: Girelli goes to ground in the box and appears to have picked up an ankle knock. The referee blows the whistle, but she quickly gets back to her feet.
76 min: Caruso picks up a knock after colliding in the air with Oliviero.
74 min: A long ball is played over the Italy defence and through to Deloose, who bursts forward from the back. It forces Guiliani out to the edge of the box and the goalkeeper puts her body on the line to make the save.
73 min: Another two changes from Italy, with Cantore making way for Michela Cambiaghi and Julie Piga on for Lenzini.
70 min: Belgium look to break forward as Vanhaevermaet receives the ball on the half-turn in midfield from Tysiak. She plays it out wide to Wijnants, who looks to play inside, but nothing comes of it.
66 min: It’s a double substitution for Belgium as Sarah Wijnants replaces Janssens and Toloba makes way for Marie Detruyer.
64 min: A cross is played into the Belgium box and is headed on before falling to the feet of Girelli, who looks to flick it in with her back heel. Her effort forces Lichtfus into a quick-thinking save.
62 min: Chance for Italy as the ball is played through to Caruso, but Tysiak gets there to make the clearance. The defender picks up a knock in the process after colliding with team-mate Janssens.
60 min: Eurlings has been the stand-out player for Belgium so far, with almost every chance and attack coming through her.
57 min: Belgium are really pushing for this equaliser, but they just lack that cutting edge at the moment. They need to start making the most of their chances if they want anything from this match.
54 min: Italy make two changes with Di Guglielmo, who was on a yellow, replaced by Elisabetta Oliviero and Giugliano making way for Gaida Greggi.
53 min: Wullaert steps up to take the free kick but her cross flies over the box and behind for a goal kick. A wasted opportunity for Belgium.
52 min: Cantore is booked for a challenge on Eurlings and Belgium have a free kick in a very dangerous area.
49 min: Belgium break forward on the hunt for an equaliser. Janssens plays the ball inside to Kees, who squares it short to Toloba. The midfielder then passes forward to Eurlings, who has her cross intercepted.
46 min: Eurlings wins a free kick following a late challenge from Di Guglielmo, who is already on a yellow card.
KICK-OFF: Belgium 0-1 Italy
We’re back under way!
If you want some half-time reading, be sure to give Emma Hayes’ first Euro 2025 column a look…
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HALF-TIME: Belgium 0-1 Italy
After a promising start which appeared to fizzle out, the match burst back into life following that opening goal from Caruso. Still plenty of time for Belgium to respond, however!
45+1 min: The goal stands.
It’s a good thing it does – what a finish that was! After receiving a pass from Di Guglielmo, the forward turned just outside the box before unleashing a fantastic curled effort into the top-left corner!
45 min: But wait… we have a VAR check for a potential handball in the build-up.
GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Italy (Arianna Caruso, 44)
Caruso gets the opener! Italy lead!
42 min: Three minutes to go until half-time…
39 min: Chance for Belgium and probably the best of the match so far. Deloose plays a fantastic pass through to Wullaert in the box, splitting the Italy defence in the process. The striker scuffs her initial shot but manages to follow-up, narrowly dragging her effort wide.
36 min: Cantore goes for goal from just inside the box, but a deflection from an Italy defender takes the sting out of the shot, making it easy for Lichtfus to save.
33 min: Di Guglielmo loses possession far too easily to Deloose, who looks to break forward, but is dragged down immediately by the Italy star. Di Guglielmo is then booked for the foul.
30 min: We’re yet to see anything properly click for both teams. Too often in this match we’ve seen passes cut out or misplaced. Italy seem to be struggling in midfield especially.
29 min: Nothing comes of the Belgium set piece and Italy can head clear.
28 min: Eurlings receives the ball out on the right and looks to play inside to Vanhaevermaet, but her pass is cut out and Belgium have a corner.
25 min: A long ball is sent over to Eurlings from the Belgium defence, who passes it centrally to Toloba. The midfielder attempts to shoot from the edge of the box, but drags her effort wide.
22 min: Caruso goes for goal from the edge of the box, but her effort fails to really challenge Lichtfus.
21 min: Vanhaevermaet and Janssens play a one-two on the right as Belgium look to move forward, but the ball is intercepted before the final pass into the box can be made.
18 min: Italy have a corner, but it is wasted when Boattin’s cross hits the side netting.
16 min: Giugliano receives the first yellow card of the match for a challenge on Eurlings.
13 min: Deloose bursts out of defence to intercept a pass among the Italy midfield, but Belgium are unable to follow up for the attack.
10 min: This has been a high-tempo clash so far, with both teams having some decent chances at goal. It’s difficult to see which way this could go.
8 min: Wullaert looks to find Toloba in the box with an attempted through ball but her effort runs behind for a goal kick.
6 min: Italy have a free kick on the left and a cross is sent into the box by Boattin. Salvai goes for goal with a header, but Lichtfus is there to catch.
4 min: Italy head straight down to the other end of the pitch and win a corner, but nothing comes of the set piece and Lichtfus is able to claim.
2 min: Belgium break away down the left and Janssens sends a low cross to Wullaert in the box. The striker goes for goal with her first touch and forces an early save from Giuliani.
KICK-OFF
We’re under way in Sion!
Both teams pay tribute to Diogo Jota and André Silva with a moment of silence.
I have to say, the Stade Tourbillon is probably one of the most picturesque stadiums I think I’ve ever seen! The mountainous backdrop behind the ground is absolutely stunning. Anyway, onto the football now…
The teams are out! The national anthems are about to be sung. Kick-off is just a few moments away!
Here’s a reminder of the games we’ve got to look forward to this evening:
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Belgium v Italy
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Spain v Portugal
The Guardian Football team have been incredibly busy over the last few weeks putting together features, interviews and team guides to see you all through the tournament. Let me first point you in the direction of this absolutely mammoth guide to all 368 players appearing at Euro 2025 this month.
If you’re checking out our Belgium page, you might as well also look at our Italy team guide to read up on Andrea Soncin’s squad.
As we approach kick-off, be sure to check out our Belgium team guide to become acquainted with Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir and her team.
UEFA announced this morning that a moment of silence will take place before each of the next four Euro 2025 games in memory of both Diogo Jota and André Silva. A statement read: “UEFA announces that a moment of silence will be observed at all of today’s and tomorrow’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 matches in memory of Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva who tragically passed away today.”
Football is in mourning today. It would feel wrong to continue this live blog without talking about the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva. The 28-year-old Liverpool star and his 26-year-old brother, who played for Portuguese second-division team Penafiel, died in a car accident in north-western Spain this morning.
Jota married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three young children, just 11 days ago in Porto. On Monday, Rute shared photographs from their wedding day and wrote: “My dream came true.” Jota commented: “I’m the lucky one.”
The gravity of Jota’s death, and the death of his younger brother, has been, and will continue to be, felt by millions across the world.
Belgium, Italy, and everybody at the Stade Tourbillon this afternoon will pay tribute to both prior to kick-off with a moment of silence.
Team news
Belgium starting line-up: Lisa Lichtfus; Laura Deloose, Janice Cayman, Sari Kees, Amber Tysiak, Jill Janssens; Justine Vanhaevermaet, Jarne Teulings, Hannah Eurlings, Mariam Toloba; Tessa Wullaert (C). Substitutes: Nicky Evrard, Femke Bastiaen, Davina Philtjens, Ella Van Kerkhoven, Sarah Wijnants, Tine De Caigny, Elena Dhont, Jassina Blom, Zenia Mertens, Isabelle Iliano, Marie Detruyer, Kassandra Missipo.
Italy starting line-up: Laura Giuliani; Martina Lenzini, Cecilia Salvai, Elena Linari, Lucia Di Guglielmo; Sofia Cantore, Manuela Giugliano, Emma Severini, Lisa Boattin; Arianna Caruso; Cristiana Girelli (C). Substitutes: Rachele Baldi, Francesca Durante, Elisabetta Oliviero, Eva Schatzer, Martina Piemonte, Barbara Bonansea, Julie Piga, Valentina Bergamaschi, Annamaria Serturini, Eleonora Goldoni, Giada Greggi, Michela Cambiaghi.
Preamble
Hello, hallo, ciao and welcome to coverage of Belgium v Italy at Euro 2025. The tournament kicked off yesterday with Finland beating Iceland 1-0 and hosts Switzerland suffering a 2-1 defeat to Norway.
Today, we move on to Group B which could prove to be the pick of the bunch. With Spain expected to seal the top spot, Belgium and Italy could both still be in contention for the second knockout qualification place come the final match of the round on July 11. This year, Belgium will be aiming to reach the quarter-finals for just the second time in their history. However, the Italians will be very difficult to beat.
Kick-off for this one is 5pm BST.