Going all out for the win against Belgium

Montse Tomé said before the opening match against Portugal that “starting tournaments strongly is important”. Just as important as kicking on after a strong start, as is the aim today against Belgium in this second match of Group B. The play an opponent they have faced often in recent times, four times in the past year: “I have looked at the most recent matches, of course, they’re recent and they still have the same head coach. We know Belgium very well and they have players of great quality,” said the coach before yesterday’s training session at the Thun Arena.

While it is true that the performance in the opening match – solid, focused, and with great attacking threat – against the Portuguese is now in the past, both the coach and Olga Carmona know that the key is to take it one game at a time and focus on the next objective: taking the three points against the Belgians. “We have to keep our feet on the ground, we know all the teams are going to pose a challenge,” said the PSG midfielder.

Belgium and Spain have been drawn together twice in the past year and a half, curiously in both the qualifying group for this Euros in Switzerland and recently in the Nations League qualifying group. The four recent encounters have all ended in Spain wins, with a goal difference of 17 in favour and only three conceded. In their overall history, of the 19 matches played so far, Spain have won 12, drawn three and lost four.

Today they will face each other for the 20th time, at 6 p.m., at the Thun Arena (La 1, TVE). The match, which will be officiated by Hungarian referee Katalin Kulcsár, could be worth more than just three points – it could mean direct qualification for the quarter-finals.