Italy win Group B opener against Belgium
Caruso curled in superb winner just before half-time
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FT: Belgium 0-1 Italy
That's all for this one as Italy beat Belgium to win the opening game in Group B.
We've got build-up to the 8pm kick-off already under way. World champions Spain take on Portugal later.
You can follow live coverage of that one here.
FT: Belgium 0-1 Italy
FT: Belgium 0-1 Italy
Italy are top of Group B... for now.
Spain and Portugal play at 20:00 BST in the other game in this group today.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Belgium 0-1 Italy
Steph Houghton
Former England captain on BBC Two
I think in terms of the first half Belgium were the better team, but in the second half only having one attempt on target is disappointing with the quality that they have.
FT: Belgium 0-1 Italy
Here's Arianna Caruso's first-half goal which secured victory for Italy this evening.
Caruso gives Italy the lead with 'brilliant' strike
FT: Belgium 0-1 Italy
Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Two
In that second half we saw Italy's ability to do enough. They weren't great, but they did what was needed to be done.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
All over in Sion.
Arianna Caruso's goal shortly before the end of the second half proves the difference as Italy win their opening match at a Euros for the first time since 2009.
Image source, Getty ImagesBelgium 0-1 Italy
Now Italy are holding the ball in the corner. They want to see this out.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
It's been a frustrating game for Belgium.
Elisabet Gunnarsdottir has her head in her hands as the referee blows for another foul.
Belgium don't look like levelling.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on BBC Two
Italy need to be on guard to see this game out.
Image source, Getty ImagesBelgium 0-1 Italy
Sarah Wijnants plays a long ball towards the Italy box and Sarah Wijnants heads it down, but Ella Van Kerkhoven can't reach it in time.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
They've corrected it in the stadium and it's nine minutes of added time.
Confusion over.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on BBC Two
Michela Cambiaghi must have had four attempts since coming on. She has looked so sharp.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Another big chance for Michela Cambiaghi. She heads wide from the corner.
Image source, Getty ImagesBelgium 0-1 Italy
Italy are trying to wrap this up.
Cristiana Girelli plays a nice pass towards Giada Greggi, who sends it back towards the middle, but Belgium knock it behind for another corner.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Eight minutes of added time announced in the stadium, nine goes up on the board. It's anyone's guess.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Cecilia Salvai blasts a header over from the corner.
Emma Severini goes down clutching her head after a collision with Tine De Caigny but soon gets back up.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on BBC Two
A beautiful strike.
Michela Cambiaghi completely knows what she wants to do. So sharp and a great technique.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Ooooh. Nearly a second for Italy.
Michela Cambiaghi sends a lovely, bending strike towards the far post but Lisa Lichtfus manages to push it around for a corner.
Belgium 0-1 Italy
One last role of the dice.
Ella Van Keerkhoven and Tine De Caigny come on for Belgium.
Laura Deloose and Justine Vanheavermaet make way.
Italy win in Euro 2025 opener against Belgium
Arianna Caruso's excellent strike gave Italy victory over Belgium in their opening match in Group B of Euro 2025.
An even first half yielded few clear chances for either side, with Belgium's best falling to Tessa Wullaert but her turn and shot in the area found the side-netting.
But a minute before the break, Caruso collected a defence-splitting pass from Lucia di Guglielmo inside the box and finished calmly into the top corner.
Italy came increasingly close to a second in Sion as captain Cristiana Girelli's cheeky back-heel was well saved by Lisa Lichtfus, before Michela Cambiaghi shot wide when through on goal.
The victory earned Andrea Soncin's side a precious three points in a tricky group also featuring world champions Spain, who face Portugal later on Thursday.
It also ended a run for Italy of three successive losses to Belgium, while gaining a measure of revenge for Euro 2022 when a 1-0 win for the Red Flames earned them a quarter-final spot and eliminated the Italians.
Caruso fires Italy ahead with 'brilliant' strike
Italy have come into Euro 2025 as dark horses to win the title for some, thanks to an impressive qualifying campaign where they conceded only three times in six games and finished above Netherlands and Norway in their group.
To live up to that potential, the Italians will have to end a poor recent tournament record which has seen them fail to get out of the group stage at a Euros since 2013.
Here, they controlled the midfield through the impressive Emma Severini, but lacked an attacking edge until Caruso's moment of magic.
Italy must raise their game further to be considered a realistic prospect to go all the way - but this was a more promising showing than most of their recent tournament efforts.
Everything positive produced by Belgium in an attacking sense went through Wullaert, their all-time record scorer with 92 goals.
The former Manchester City forward - who scored 10 goals for Inter Milan in Serie A last season - caused Italy problems throughout with her intelligent and incessant running.
Wullaert's efforts saw Belgium have nine shots in the first half - their record in a Euros match - but her side failed to have an effort on target in the second period as they faded.
With Wullaert, Belgium will still have hopes of progressing, but shortcomings elsewhere in their squad, including a defence that shipped 19 goals in qualifying, may prove too great to overcome.
This was the first time Italy had won their opening match at a Women's European Championship since coming from behind to defeat England 2-1 in 2009.
Belgium next take on Spain in Group B, their match at the Stockhorn Arena in Thun kicking off at 17.00 BST on Monday 7 July, while Italy face Portugal on the same day at 20.00 BST in Geneva.
Arianna Caruso scored her 15th senior international goal to secure victory for Italy
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
2 Finland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
3 Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
4 Iceland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
|
2 Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
3 Belgium | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
4 Portugal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Denmark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
2 Germany | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
3 Poland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
4 Sweden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
2 France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
3 Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Manager: ElÃsabet Gunnarsdóttir
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
Manager: Andrea Soncin
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: ElÃsabet Gunnarsdóttir
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
Manager: Andrea Soncin
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
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