Well thank you for joining me for this dramatic match!
France secure their last eight spot and if you want to re-live the action have a read of Maryam Naz’ report here:
Beth Mead remains at the top of the Golden Boot race as second place Geyoro didn’t find the back of the net this evening. It’s been a goal frenzy this tournament though and I am loving it.
So France have booked their place in the quarters but their opponent will be decided in the last round of group matches. They will play whoever ends up runner-up in Group C, which at the moment is Sweden.
Here’s a look at the penalty decision and red card. What do you think?
Thoughts on the penalty decision? 🤔
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 14, 2022
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We have had some reaction to the red card as Peter says: “Don’t care for that red card personally. Not so much for the penalty as for the player to miss possibly their last game of the tournament. That’s harsh.”
Full-time: France 2-1 Belgium
Well, that was a dramatic end wasn’t it! At half-time the game was finely poised at 2-1 as Belgium were building. But the last few minutes of normal time saw Tysiak’s hand touch a shot from Geyoro. The action was judged a yellow, a second for the defender, saw her go off with a red but Renard’s penalty was saved! France will top the group and are into the quarter-finals.
90 + 6 min: There’s a French corner as Minnaert gets it away. The ball is sent in but Renard’s header is saved. The whistle has gone, France are through to the last 8
90 + 4 min: There are five minutes added so Belgium do have time to equalise here. I’m still shocked by the penalty decision, Tysiak’s hand did touch the ball but it looked like a natural position to me. France have a free kick as another foul comes in.
90 + 2 min: The commentators are saying the penalty miss is poetic justice for Belgium, what are your thoughts on the red card and penalty decision? I think it was a soft one to give.
PENALTY MISS! France 2-1 Belgium
Renard’s penalty is saved superbly by Evrard and then the French captain misses the rebound.
Updated
RED CARD! France 2-1 Belgium (Tysiak, 88')
It’s a second yellow for Tysiak and she’s off!
Updated
88 min: The VAR check results in the ref having to look at the screen. It is a handball they are looking at but this would be so soft if it is given. She’s given it! Tysiak’s hand is judged to have deflected Geyoro’s chance.
87 min: Bilbaut is fouled and France have to build from deep. They run it to the edge of the box and Perisset wins a corner. Renard gets a head to it but it’s pinged back into the box with Geyoro’s chance deflected for another corner. There’s a VAR check for a penalty ahead of the second corner - I’m unsure what they are looking for there’s nothing there for me but I think it’s for handball.
84 min: Bacha takes the set piece but Cascarino can’t quite get to it. Belgium look to counter but it’s stolen back by France quite easily. Tysiak interrupts the ball to send Belgium on their way again. Cayman crosses and Peyraud-Magnin goes to collect but it escapes her. Renard has to clear it, a nervous moment there!
Updated
82 min: Geyoro is found in the box but she is tackled well. Bacha makes a great run as France thump it back into the box but it goes out of play. There’s a yellow for De Caigny as she fouls Sarr and she gifts away a free kick.
80 min: Belgium are being patient in every attack when in their own half but they seem to rush their last few passes. It’s been all Belgium in the last few minutes but they didn’t get a shot on target. France are coming now ...
77 min: Bacha has the latest chance, she has looked good in both matches coming off the bench. Her attempt goes to nothing. Belgium are patient in their build-up here but the French manage to steal it back. Again Belgium are forced to play out of their own half but in the end French defenders outnumber the Belgian attack. Belgium make another change as Dhont comes off for Eurlings.
74 min: A French coach has told the media Katoto’s injury doesn’t look too serious right now. Great news! Minnaert bangs the ball into the box but Peyraud-Magnin plucks it out the air. The announcement has come that just over 8,000 are watching in Rotherham.
72 min: Belgium have retained possession which could see them build a good attack. Bacha nicks the ball back. Remember if France win here they book a quarter-final spot.
Updated
70 min: De Neve does so well under pressure, the ball is threaded to Karchaoui but the defender times her tackle perfectly. There’s another Belgian change as De Neve comes off for Tysiak. Of course that change decision was made before that intervention by De Neve but still a curious decision with how well the defender was playing.
68 min: Kees does well again to cut out a shot, France ping it back in. Sarr gets a head to it, it’s a poor attempt, and Evrard collects. Geyoro pounds it back in the box moments later, it’s dealt with, and France come again. Sarr has another poor finish as Evrard pushes her soft tap away.
65 min: Belgium corner, their first of the match. Could they strike back? They play it short, it is sent in and Peyraud-Magnin punches away. France are starting to get sloppy as they loose it in the midfield, the ball runs out of play though and the French make changes. Diani is off by Bacha and Mateo departs for Toletti.
63 min: The mood has definitely changed. For the majority of the first half France were fluid and had all the momentum. But after conceding they look slightly more nervous, though they do still have the majority of possession. France win a free kick at halfway after Wullaert fouls but it ends with great defence from Belgium closing down the chance. Another Frenchwoman goes to the floor and the ref doesn’t give a free kick. De Caigny’s run is good as Belgium look to strike back but offside rules out the chance.
60 min: There are two changes for Belgium as Philtjens and Vanhaevermaet come off for Deloose and Delacauw. Belgium are looking better and are keeping France out.
Updated
58 min: Geyoro is down in the box and she receives boos for it, was it a dive? Maybe slightly. Diani, who has had a good match, passes but the whistle blows for an earlier offside by Cascarino. Belgium have a chance as Wullaert seeks De Caigny in the box but they don’t pull it off.
56 min: Mateo’s cross slices like hot butter but it goes out of play, that looked like a similar cross England’s Lucy Bronze put in ahead of the tournament which she scored from.
54 min: France win a corner, yes another one, as they thread passes together. It was beautiful team football there for them to earn the set-piece. Renard, who has got a head to every corner, gets a head to it but Evrard collects. The France captain gets the ball away and it ends up with Sarr, who overruns it and Evrard does well to close her down.
51 min: Belgium were building there but Wullaert has too much on a pass which gifts it back to France. Belgium fight back as Dhont comes forward but Renard cuts the pass out, a great bit of defending by the French captain. Diani runs it up the other end and crosses in but Sarr can’t get to it. Cascarino then goes wide with a shot.
49 min: Belgium get a throw in but it’s immediately hit out of play, they need to capitalise on the chances when they have them. It’s a slow build in this second 45 with possession exchanging hands quickly but Sarr crosses. Belgium defence runs it back to the midfield.
47 min: France get the first chance of the half with Diani’s shot hitting the side netting.
Back underway! France 2-1 Belgium
The action has restarted and my prediction of a 3-1 French win is still intact. For now anyway ... There’s been a change for Belgium as Vangheluwe is off for Minnaert
It’s been a tasty game so far, let me know you’re thoughts via Twitter or email! I still anticipate France winning this but Belgium have started to show their class.
Here is that first goal from Diani! Do you think France can go on to win this and top the group?
"It's far too easy for France!"
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 14, 2022
After just six minutes, Kadidiatou Diani has opened the scoring! 👏
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Half-time: France 2-1 Belgium
Diani had another chance with a header going wide. France looked to replicate their pasting of Italy a few days ago as Diani got an early goal. But they saw many chances go awry and Belgium were the next to score through Cayman to relight the clash. However, France wanted the last say and Bathy slotted a score to put her side back ahead. It’s all to play for but France are the brighter side so far.
45 + 2 min: Vangheluwe cuts out a pass from Cascarino as the Belgium defence begin to shift into gear. Jim has got in touch about Belgium’s goal and said: “That was a great goal, definitely worth describing the assist that was *perfectly* weighted. In the end, it’s going to be a consolation goal, but it was very nicely worked.”
45 min: Belgium have a good spell by the box but France don’t panic and they will look to see this out in front ahead of the break. Belgium are looking stronger every passing minute so the five minutes added will be warmly received.
42 min: Well Belgium were right back in this but not for long! I asked how France would react and they did so perfectly.
GOAL! France 2-1 Belgium (Mbock Bathy, 40')
Perisset looks to feed a chance and she does win a corner. Mateo takes it but it’s cleared. Mateo has it back and she crosses in for Bathy to head home.
Updated
39 min: France had all the possession and the chances and for Belgium to score their only chance on target is a big statement here! The goal stemmed from a free kick given away cheaply by Bilbaut. Can France react? Peter has got in touch and said: “To anyone tempted to count Belgium out already, my advice would be this: Dhont.”
37 min: VAR are looking are this to see if it’s offside, this is the first time Belgium have touched the ball in the French penalty area! France were shell shocked and were too relaxed to defend it but will they get away with this? No they don’t! The goal stands.
GOAL! France 1-1 Belgium (Cayman, 36')
Oh my! That has come out of nowhere, it was too easy!
Updated
34 min: De Neve gets Belgium out of trouble as she intercepts the ball in the box and they look to cause some trouble themselves. But it doesn’t last long with Dhont losing it in the midfield. France runs the ball through the team and they win a corner, that was a cracking bit of football. They take the set piece short but it ends in a goal kick.
31 min: Possession exchanges hands but it’s France who come out the better as Perisset sends the ball in but Kees clears - she has been good so far. Cascarino gets into the box but Cayman closes her down well and the resulting shot is wide. Kees blocks once more as the French steam forward.
28 min: Belgium have a good attack with Perisset not clearing well but France do win it back. There are hints of brilliance from Belgium but they are fleeting. France win another corner, their fifth of the match, but the chance sees Renard’s header wide once more.
26 min: It’s more of the same in the game with France winning the ball in the midfield. They launch another attack and Cascarino’s shot is blocked. David has got in touch and said: “It’s going to be a long night for the Belgian defence, Wendie Renard: 6’2” Davina Philtjens: 4’11”.”
24 min: Diani intercepts a Belgium ball but she is fouled by Kees, a French free kick to come. Perisset, Chelsea’s new signing, takes the set-piece and tries to find Renard but she is marked well. France do earn a corner but again it’s blocked and then Bilbault’s shot sails over the bar.
22 min: Sarr is ruled offside in France’s latest bid for a goal but it has been all France so far. Katoto is shown onscreen and her knee is being iced, a worry for France.
Updated
20 min: Belgium are yet to get a foot into this one and they have been sloppy in defence. Kees does well to head a chance out of the box and Belgium look to launch an attack. But, as I feel I will say a lot today, France win it back.
17 min: Katoto was down for a prolonged time, her knee already strapped up, and she limps to the sideline. She isn’t immediately replaced but I think she will be, France play with 10 for now. After a long build-up play Diani has a shot hit the post, I think the keeper got a hand to that! If she did, what a save! She does! Wow, what a save. And here’s Katoto’s replacement Sarr. France have a corner but Renard’s header is blocked.
14 min: Cascarino has another go but her shot is blocked. Dhont and Bilbault are both down and look in pain. Dhont is up quite quickly but the Frenchwoman remains on the floor for a while. But she is up! Both remain on the pitch after colliding.
11 min: A lovely fun fact for you, we have now had more goals scored in the tournament than we had in the entire 2017 group stage. Renard makes a rare mistake to create a Belgium chance but good French defence ends in a goal kick. Cascarino has a great chance but her long range shot goes wide. She has been amazing for France in the tournament so far.
8 min: An easy cross is put into the box and it comes into the path of an unmarked Diani who heads down into the corner. This could be a long afternoon for Belgium but they are checking this goal for offside. It stands but I think that was on the wire!
Updated
GOAL! France 1-0 Belgium (Diani, 6)
Ah they didn’t weather it, Diani scores easily
Updated
5 min: Katoto gets in the air but doesn’t have a punt on a great cross into the box. There are some nervous moments for Belgium here. France have another corner but it’s defended well.
Adam has got in touch and said: “I’m really looking forward to this one, and especially so given how highly I rate Griedge Mbock Bathy. I was really impressed with her in the World Cup, and am excited to see her perform again; I think she’s such a natural and graceful footballer. Aside from her, I’m interested to see how Geyoro kicks on after her stellar opening performance, if Katoto can set this tournament alight as she ought, and if Diani can build on her absurdly good opening day showing. On the Belgian side, I’m excited to see Cayman and Wullaert; the former for her legendary status and the latter for seeing her talent watching her at Manchester City. I reckon this will be a French victory, but you never know!” Belgium could have an upset but they will have to weather this early French storm!
3 min: France are the brighter side in the early stages, pushing high and getting into the box but they can’t manufacture a chance. Belgium retain possession as they look to settle into this one but France win it back. There’s a French corner, they scored from a set-piece in the last game, but Renard’s header is wide.
Kick-off! France 0-0 Belgium
And we are underway! Andrew has got in touch via email and said: “The talent is undoubtedly there, but I wonder will they [France] implode? Can they keep a lid on the in-fighting? Watch this space I guess.” We will indeed Andrew!
Here we go then! There’s a huge roar as the players come out. I’m going to predict a 3-1 France win, we will see how right I am shortly!
The teams will soon be out on the pitch and the anthems will be in full voice shortly! Who is excited for this one? I know I am and the fans will let the players know they are!
Any thoughts throughout the match send them my way and I’ll do my best to include them in the blog. You can get in touch via Twitter, @rendellx, or email.
My eyes will be on France today to see if they can impress as much as they did last time out. Their 5-1 win blew many away, especially as all five goals came in the first half! Can they follow it up? We’ll soon find out ...
The Golden Boot race is well underway and England’s Beth Mead is currently topping the charts with four goals so far.
France’s Grace Geyoro could equal or overtake her this evening though after her hat-trick against Italy.
Check out all the latest on the race here:
The team news is in!
France have made two changes to their starting XI as Griedge Bathy and Clara Mateo come in for Aissatou Tounkara and Sandie Toletti.
France starting XI: Peyraud-Magnin, Perisset, Bathy, Renard, Karchaoui, Geyoro, Bilbault, Mateo, Diani, Katoto, Cascarino.
Belgium, meanwhile, haven’t made any chances to their starting line-up.
Belgium starting XI: Evrard; Vangheluwe, Kees, De Neve; Philtjens, Vanhaevermaet, De Caigny, Biesmans; Dhont, Cayman, Wulleart (C).
The Guardian’s team guides are the perfect way to get to know the teams and players of this tournament.
For today’s clash, have a read of France’s here:
And Belgium’s can be found here:
I am currently baking in my front room as my window is too heavy to open, I really need to buy a fan!
How are you coping in this heat? Get in touch and let me know, I’m reachable by Twitter or email!
The latest reaction following that result in the Italy Iceland game is coming to you from Daniel Harris.
Have a look over at his blog to catch up with everything there before coming back from France v Belgium action:
Hello and welcome to the second Euros match of the day!
A game in Group D has taken place and it has left France top of the group as neither Iceland or Italy could find a winner in their 1-1 draw. Iceland’s Vilhjalmsdottir grabbed a first half goal with Bergamaschi levelling the scores.
The French were impressive in their first match, sealing a 5-1 victory over Italy, and Belgium head coach Ives Serneels knows his side will be defending for the majority of the match.
He told UEFA: “We will have to make the most of the few chances that we get [against France]. We think we can hurt them in some situations, but we will have to defend as a block against this France side.
“Will we play with an extra defender? That’s an option, but if we defend too deep we’re going to get completely trapped in front of our own goal and I also want my team to offer something in attack as well. Can we cause an upset? We have to believe that.”
The outcome of this match will soo become apparent with kick-off coming at 8pm BST.
