Belgium vs Italy prediction, H2H and probable lineups — July 3, 2025
Belgium
Italy
The opening round of the Women's European Championship group stage brings a showdown between Belgium and Italy. The match will take place in Sion on Thursday, July 3, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 Central European Time. I'm backing a bet on goals in this encounter.
Match preview
The Belgian women's national team heads into Euro 2025 with ambitions not just to escape the group, but to finally make a statement on the continental stage. The team made its European Championship debut in 2017 and reached the quarterfinals at the last tournament.
During qualifying, Belgium looked decent going forward, but their defensive play was nothing short of disastrous. They couldn't challenge Spain or Denmark, conceding a massive 18 goals in six matches.
On the flip side, Belgium excelled in the playoffs. First, they swept Greece with an aggregate score of 5-0, then defeated Ukraine twice to secure their spot in the final tournament.
Although the squad lacks true stars from Europe's top five leagues, their chemistry and collective spirit allow them to go toe-to-toe with any opponent. The match against Italy is a crucial chance to show just how much they've grown over the past two or three years.
Italy, after a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign, has begun a rebuild. The focus is on young talent, but there's still plenty of experience in the squad, striking a strong balance between youth and veteran leadership.
The Italian style is gradually shifting from defensive football to a more possession-based, combination game with intense pressing. Italy topped their qualifying group, but the battle with the Netherlands, Norway, and Finland was anything but easy.
In the latest UEFA Women's Nations League campaign, Italy failed to win their group and advance to the semifinals, finishing just behind Sweden. Despite some inconsistency, Italy remains a formidable tournament team, capable of outclassing rivals when it counts.
This opening fixture will be a stern test for the revamped Azzurre. It's worth noting that they'll also face Portugal and Spain in the group stage.
Match facts
- Belgium hasn't drawn in 11 consecutive matches.
- Italy has conceded just one goal in their last three outings.
- Belgium averages 1.7 goals per game, while Italy averages 2 goals per game.
Probable lineups
- Belgium: Lichtfus, Tysiak, Kees, Cayman, Tysiak, Vanhaevermaet, Deluze, Janssens, Toloba, Ourlings, Wullaert.
- Italy: Ghiliani, Lenzini, Salvai, Linari, Soffia, Giuliano, Caruso, Severini, Oliviero, Cantore, Girelli.
H2H
The teams have met five times: four wins for Belgium and one for Italy.
Prediction
Both sides favor attacking football: Belgium relies on wing play and crosses, while Italy is more central and possession-oriented. With this being the tournament opener and both teams eager for three points, we should see open football with plenty of chances. Despite Italy's slight edge in quality, Belgium is ready to put up a fight. My bet: total goals over 2.5.
