Women's Euros: France secure top of Group D with Belgium victory, Italy and Iceland play out 1-1 draw

By Sports Desk July 14, 2022

France secured their passage through to the knockout round of the women's Euros as Group D winners after a 2-1 victory over Belgium, while Italy and Iceland drew 1-1 as both remain winless.

France were one of the stories of the opening round of fixtures, as they romped Italy 5-1 to get their tournament off to a brilliant start.

And they started their second game impressively too, going ahead after only six minutes when Kadidiatou Diani leaped highest at the back post to nod a Sakina Karchaoui cross into the back of the net.

However, the French were pegged back on 36 minutes with Belgium’s first shot of the match, when Janice Cayman poked a through ball from Tessa Wullaert past the oncoming Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

Les Bleues had been completely dominant and did go into the break ahead, after Belgium failed to clear a corner. Clara Mateo whipped another delivery into the box, where Griedge Mbock Bathy was waiting to head home.

Corinne Diacre's team should have added a third heading into injury time, when a penalty was awarded for an Amber Tysiak handball. Tysiak received a second yellow card, but Wendie Renard's penalty was saved before she missed an open goal on the rebound.

Renard wasn't made to pay for her miss though, as France saw out the remaining minutes to clinch Group D and get them into the next round.

Italy and Iceland had never played each other at a Euros, and the former were desperate to put a humiliating 5-1 defeat to France in their tournament opener behind them.

Yet they found themselves behind just three minutes after kick-off, when a long throw into the box from Sveindis Jonsdottir wasn’t dealt with properly by the Italians. It sat up perfectly for Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir, who rifled a half-volley into the top right corner to put Iceland 1-0 up.

Italy were arguably the better team in the remainder of the first half, but a number of good saves from Sandra Sigurdardottir maintained her side’s lead going into the interval.

That advantage would only last until the 62nd minute however. Barbara Bonansea came on at half-time, and it was her good work down the left-hand side that created the goal, as she drove to the byline before pulling the ball back for Valentina Bergamaschi. The Milan midfielder took it first time, and fired past Sigurdardottir to make it 1-1.

Bonansea herself hit the post on 73 minutes, when her dipping effort looked to be sneaking into the bottom corner until an important hand from Sigurdardottir tipped it onto the frame of the goal.

The two teams had chances to nick a winner late on, but neither could take them and they were forced to share the spoils as both still wait for their first win of the tournament.

Iceland sit second in Group D, while Italy remain bottom. Iceland will face France on Monday, knowing that a win will guarantee their place in the next stage of the competition. Italy and Belgium have one point each, and will both need to get a result before hoping France do them a favour if their competition is to continue.

 

Related items

  • Dream debut: Dixon shines with goal, assist on debut for Charlton U21s in 3-2 win over Watford Dream debut: Dixon shines with goal, assist on debut for Charlton U21s in 3-2 win over Watford

    Reggae Boy Kaheim Dixon was on the scoresheet in his debut for Charlton Athletic U21s in a 3-2 win over Watford at Vicarage Road on Friday.

    Charlton took the lead after just two minutes through a goal from Henry Rylah before Watford got their equalizer through Mamadou Doumbia a minute later.

    The 19-year-old Dixon, who joined the League One club from Arnett Gardens in August, then capitalized from a defensive mistake by Watford to put his team up 2-1.

    Charlton then went two goals clear thanks to Mile Leaburn, who was assisted by Dixon.

    Doumbia got his second goal of the game to finish the scoring at 3-2.

    Charlton U21s now have 19 points in seven games in the Professional Development League.

    The win strengthens lead atop the table to six points.

    They will next take on Brentford U21s on October 1.

     

     

  • Alcaraz beaten on Laver Cup debut with Zverev in doubles Alcaraz beaten on Laver Cup debut with Zverev in doubles

    Carlos Alcaraz suffered defeat on his Laver Cup debut, as he was beaten in straight sets alongside Alexander Zverev in doubles by Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.

    Team Europe put up a strong fight but struggled to match Fritz and Shelton, who won 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in one hour and 37 minutes.

    Alcaraz and Zverev made a slow start to the match, losing their serve in the fourth game as the Americans went on a three-game winning streak, but they pulled it back to level the tie, only to lose the tie-break.

    Team Europe looked to have found their groove in the second set but failed to convert four break points in the fourth game as Fritz and Shelton levelled the score at 2-2.

    A three-game winning run at the end of the set, including one more break, was enough to get Team World over the line, pulling them back to 2-2 at the end of day one.

    Francisco Cerundolo had originally given Team World the lead with a shock win over Casper Ruud before Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov's wins had put Team Europe 2-1 up.

  • Walter proud of 'courageous' Hull after comeback win Walter proud of 'courageous' Hull after comeback win

    Tim Walter says he is proud of his "courageous" Hull City side after earning his first win in charge, beating Stoke City 3-1.

    Narcis Pelach led the Potters out for the first time on Friday and saw his side take a 1-0 lead through Ben Wilmot into half-time. 

    However, Hull came out fighting in the second half to claim three points for the first time this season.

    Kasey Palmer saw a penalty saved just after the hour mark but turned in the rebound before goals from Regan Slater and an own goal from Wilmot completed their late turnaround.

    It is a win that propels the Tigers from 19th to 13th in the Championship, above Stoke, and Walter believes it has been a long time coming.

    "It's hard to describe because I never had this feeling before. I've never not had a win in five games, so for me, it's a new situation," Walter told Sky Sports.

    "But I also knew the whole time that we can win. Today we did it and that's the reason I'm really proud of my boys. They deserved to win.

    "I'm happy because they always believed they can win and that's important.

    "After conceding the goal, we were better. We were more courageous. We showed more bravery and that's the key to the result."

    Pelach succeeded Steven Schumacher as Stoke's manager following his shock sacking earlier this week, having won two of the five matches under the Englishman at the start of the season.

    Stoke managed 14 shots against Hull, but only two efforts on target, with both of those coming in the first 45 minutes.

    Despite starting with a defeat, Pelach is looking for the positives after such a short time with the squad.

    "It's a pity we couldn't win the game," Pelach told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "We wanted to take the points, but I think the lads tried to put a new style of play in place.

    "But in the second half, we lost control and ran out of energy. We should have pressed more, but we will try to explain this tomorrow and keep working on the defensive style.

    "There is some things to work on mentally and we will do it. We will take the positives, and we will improve."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.