Spain is the European Championship's big gold favorite and followed up the premiere win, 5–0 against Portugal, with a new offensive strength demonstration against Belgium.
It was a bit worse with the defense. The Belgian women were allowed to surprisingly equalize both to 1–1 (corner kick by Justine Vanhaevermaet) and 2–2 (sharp counterattack by Hannah Eurlings), but over 90 minutes, the ball-skilled Spanish national team was still a couple of numbers too big.
We create a lot and score many goals. We have made two good and powerful matches. But there were moments in the match where we didn't really have control and made pretty big mistakes, that's something we need to improve, says team captain and center back Irene Paredes.
Putellas scored 1–0
The goal party on the rain-soaked grass in Thun began when the 18-year-old giant talent Vicky López played Alexia Putellas to 1–0 in the middle of the first half. A goal that once again showed that Spain doesn't need much time or space to break down an opponent's defense.
In the 2–1 goal, a physical Belgium got a taste of its own medicine when Paredes reached the highest with her head on a corner.
And then Spain practically closed the match with two goals within ten minutes, as a direct response to Eurlings' 2–2 goal in the 50th minute. Esther González shot 3–2 and Mariona Caldentey 4–2.
More goals would come in the end: Clàudia Pina nicely curled in 5–2 in the cross before Putellas made sure to become the match's only two-goal scorer.
Substitution of Bonmatí
Spanish midfield star and Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí started on the bench, but was substituted in already at halftime instead of Vicky López. Bonmatí suffered from meningitis near the European Championship and only made a shorter substitution in the premiere.
LATER on Monday evening, Italy and Portugal meet in Geneva. If it becomes an Italian victory there, it's clear which two countries will advance from the group, already before the presumed group final between Spain and Italy on Friday.
