Italy beat Belgium 1-0 in Group B opener at women's Euros
Italy beat Belgium 1-0 at women's Euro 2025 in Switzerland on Thursday in what could be a crucial victory in their bid for a place in knock-out stages.
Arianna Caruso fired the winner in the 44th minute in Sion in Group B where world champions and top favourites Spain were facing Portugal later in the day in Bern.
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Belgium beat Italy with the same score at the last edition in 2022 to reach the quarter-finals but they now face an uphill battle to repeat the feat. Twice former third-place finishers Italy will also need improvement in the coming games.
A minute of silence was observed before kick-off in memory of Portugal and Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, who died in an overnight car crash.
Belgium largely contained the favoured Italians in the first half, and their star striker Tessa Wullaert aimed inches left in the 40th minute.
But in the 44th Lucia Di Guglielmo set up Caruso to smash into the top left corner and put Italy ahead.
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Belgium tried to fight back but Italy almost snatched a second in the 64th when Cristiana Girelli was denied by goalkeeper Lisa Lichtfus at the near post, and Caruso aimed wide on the rebound.
Substitute Michela Cambiaghi shot wide left in the 79th and was denied in the 88th by a big save from Lichtfus.
Belgium next face Spain on Monday when Italy play Portugal.
Italy's Arianna Caruso celebrates after scoring her side's first goal of the game during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Group B soccer match between Belgium and Italy at King Baudouin Stadium. Andrea Amato/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Italy's Arianna Caruso celebrates after scoring her side's first goal of the game during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Group B soccer match between Belgium and Italy at King Baudouin Stadium. Andrea Amato/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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