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Biiiig Belgium-themed football news from today:
Feel free to email me with your hopes and expectations.
Tom Garry
Leah Williamson has praised the form of Alessia Russo before England’s No 9 spearheads the Lionesses’ attack in their Women’s Nations League double-header against Belgium, starting in Bristol on Friday.
Arsenal’s Russo has scored 14 goals in her past 21 games for club and country, including two in last week’s Champions League second-leg comeback win over Real Madrid. Her clubmate, the England captain Williamson, praised Russo’s character, saying at St George’s Park on Thursday: “Everyone will always say how nice a person Alessia is and everyone wants to see her do well for that reason. But to be a No 9 you do have to have that sort of – not arrogance – but confidence about you.
Kelly ruled out by foot injury
Chloe Kelly has been ruled out of England’s Women’s Nations League games against Belgium with a foot injury.
Kelly - who joined the Gunners on loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day - was already confirmed as an absentee from Friday night’s League A3 fixture in Bristol, but will now play no further part in the Lionesses’ camp.
An FA statement read: “Chloe Kelly has returned to Arsenal for treatment on a foot injury and will not participate in the forthcoming Uefa Women’s Nations League fixtures against Belgium.
“Yesterday Sarina Wiegman confirmed Kelly’s withdrawal from tonight’s fixture and following further assessment it has now been decided that she will return to her club to aid her rehabilitation.” The Lionesses will travel to Leuven for the return fixture against Belgium on April 8. (PA Media)
Teams
Wiegman makes one change from the side that beat Spain in February, with Beth Mead coming in for Jess Park. For Belgium, the headline is that Tessa Wullaert of Inter Milan misses out.
England (4-3-3): Hampton, Bronze, Williamson (capt.), Bright, Charles; Clinton, Walsh, Toone; Mead, Russo, James. Substitutes: Morgan, Earps, Le Tissier, Carter, Park, Parker, Beever-Jones, Parris, Moorhouse, Symonds.
Belgium (3-5-2): Evrard; Tysiak, Iliano, Cayman; Janssens, Teulings, Vanhaevermaet, Philtjens, Missipo; Toloba, Eurlings. Substitutes: Bastiaen, Blom, De Caigny, Delacauw, Deloose, Detruyter, Dhont, Elyn, Lichtfus, Mathys, Van Kerkhoven, Wijnants.
Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza (Esp)
Preamble
In three months and one day, the Lionesses will begin their European Championship defence against France in Zurich. Between now and then Sarina Wiegman’s side have two matches against Belgium – home tonight and away on Tuesday – before a Wembley date with Portugal next month, and a trip away to Spain in June.
This Women’s Nations League, for England, is partly about preparation for the summer’s Euros and partly about positioning themselves nicely for the World Cup 2027 qualifying draw.
February’s 1-0 win against Spain saw the reigning European champions produce a suitably “English” performance to get the better of the world champions: Portugal host Spain in tonight’s other fixture in League A, Group A3.
England and Portugal are joint-top with four points from two matches apiece. Play their cards right and Wiegman’s side could be top of the pile in a few hours. Let’s go!
