July 11 – Portugal head into tonight’s final Group B fixture in Sion with a simple brief on paper — win and score plenty. In reality, their path to the Euro 2025 quarter-finals remains steep, narrow, and dependent on favours from elsewhere.
A dramatic 89th-minute equaliser by Diana Gomes in their 1-1 draw with Italy on Matchday 2 kept Portuguese hopes mathematically alive. But the equation remains unforgiving: Portugal must beat Belgium and hope Italy fall to Spain. Only then will goal difference and a cascade of secondary tie-breakers determine who joins Spain in the knockout rounds.
“First, we need to win the game,” said Portugal coach Francisco Neto (pictured). “Everyone talks about goals, but above all, we have to try to win — with maximum respect for Belgium. But yes, we know that to go forward in the competition, we need to score goals.”
Portugal have scored just once in their opening two matches and find themselves chasing efficiency in front of goal at precisely the time it’s most needed. “I’m sure there won’t be a lack of shots on Friday,” midfielder Tatiana Pinto told reporters, underscoring the team’s offensive focus in recent training sessions.
For all the urgency in the Portuguese camp, Belgium will not be rolling over. Officially eliminated following their 6-2 defeat to Spain – a result that extinguished any chance of progression – Belgium’s players and staff have made it clear they will not allow this tournament to end without a fight.
“[Portugal] will face a Belgium that won’t give anything away,” said head coach Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir. “We want to finish this EURO properly. Maybe they expect a demoralised Belgium or think I’ll change the line-up and hand out chances to other players, but that’s not the case. They can expect a hard-fought contest.”
Despite conceding six to Spain, Belgium showed moments of tactical discipline and spirit, and Gunnarsdóttir has been keen to frame this tournament not as a setback, but as a chapter in a longer developmental arc for the women’s game in Belgium.
That leaves Portugal needing not just a result, but a convincing one – with goals and possibly a clean sheet – while monitoring developments in the Spain vs Italy clash. Should Italy manage even a point, Portugal’s hopes are over. If not, Neto’s side must finish above the Italians on overall goal difference, then total goals scored, then disciplinary record, and finally, UEFA qualifying phase rankings.
“We have to play step by step, knowing the game has to be played over 90 minutes,” said Neto. “If the goals aren’t coming, we’ll need to make changes. If we can score more than one, it’s amazing.”
Group B reaches its conclusion tonight in Sion, where Portugal are chasing history — and hoping fate is on their side. But Belgium, while out, will want to end on a high.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1752294372labto1752294372ofdlr1752294372owedi1752294372sni@g1752294372niwe.1752294372yrrah1752294372