Belgium began qualifying for Euro 2023 football for under-19s in Hasselt on Wednesday. The players of Thierry Siquet on this occasion beat their counterparts from Albania 3-1 in a match counting for group 7.
After a first period where the Belgians could not concretize their domination (0-0), the score was quickly opened at the start of the second half thanks to the duo from Anderlecht Noah Sadiki who was at the conclusion of an assist of Mario Stroeykens (1-0, 47th). The Imps would not hold this advantage for long. Four minutes later, Dario Daka tied the teams (1-1). Siquet’s coaching then paid off. Came to the game two minutes earlier Norman Bassette (Caen) offered the ball 2-1 to Stroeykens (64th). The Belgians then tried to consolidate their lead and managed to do so in the last moments of added time via Romeo Vermant (Club de Bruges) at the conclusion of a new assist from Bassette (3-1, 90th + 6).
Due to the suspension of Russia, this group of the first qualifying phase consists of only three teams, Spain being the third. The Spaniards will meet Albania on Saturday September 24 (4:00 p.m.) before concluding against the Devils on Tuesday September 27 (4:00 p.m.) in Genk.
The first two of the group will qualify for the Elite round (28 teams) which will be played from March 20 to 28, 2023. The final phase will bring together from July 3 to 16, 2023 seven teams in addition to Malta, the organizing country.
In the previous edition, won on July 1 by England, Belgium was eliminated in the Elites round after beating Finland (3-1), sharing the challenge with Germany (2-2) and lost to Italy (2-0). Belgium won the event in 1977.
