2023-24 UEFA Women’s Nations League: Belgium vs England

Belgium welcome England to Den Dreef, Leuven, in a must-win League A1 clash in 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Victory would put Belgium back top of the group if Netherlands lose elsewhere, whilst England can go top with a win if the Dutch fail to beat Scotland.

 

Team News

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Belgium have no fresh injury concerns to report after their defeat on Friday evening, with Jody Vangheluwe set to be available despite having been substituted at half-time.

England also have no fresh injury concerns to report and manager, Sarina Wiegman could named an unchanged line-up.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Belgium host England at Den Dreef, Leuven, in a 8:30pm CET (7:30pm UK Time) kick-off on Tuesday 31 October, live on ITV4 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Belgium lost their first UEFA Women’s Nations League meeting against England by a 1-0 result.
• England have avoided defeat in four of their last five away matches against Belgium in all competitions (W3, D1, L1).
• Belgium are yet to beat England at home when playing at Den Dreef (D1, L1).
• All three of Belgium’s goals in this group had been scored after half-time.
• England have kept just one clean sheet in their three opening Women’s Nations League matches.

 

Prediction

After last month’s World Cup hangover in their opening two group matches, England looked back to their best in a clinical home win on Friday evening with a more high-intensity display against a stubborn Belgian goalkeeper in Nicky Evrard so a tidier end product might well be key again.

Speaking of Evrard, she was Belgium’s best player with a series of crucial saves but the outfield players played just as an important role in frustating England, even though they couldn’t find that equalising goal but can take a lot of positives into this home clash.

Add in that the top spot in the group is at stake then I do expect this to be closse but if England can just find a few more gears in a country where they have played well in the past, they should have enough for the win.

Prediction: Belgium 1-2 England

Result: Belgium 3-2 England