Honestly, if you looked at the FIFA rankings before the most recent england vs belgium women's clashes, you'd have bet the house on Sarina Wiegman’s side. England are European champions. They are World Cup finalists. They have Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze. Yet, somehow, when these two teams get on a pitch together lately, logic basically goes out the window.
Football is funny like that.
For the Lionesses, Belgium has turned into that one opponent that just won't go away. You know the type. They aren't technically "better" on paper, but they have a specific, gritty DNA that makes life miserable for England’s high-possession style. We saw it in Leuven, and we’ve seen it in the Nations League. While England eventually found their rhythm in 2025, the journey there was anything but a straight line.
The Night the Script Flipped in Leuven
Most people point to the 3-2 defeat in October 2023 as the moment this rivalry got spicy. It wasn't just a loss; it was a tactical dismantling. England had 68% of the ball. They threw everything at the Red Flames. But Belgium? They were ruthless.
Tessa Wullaert is a name that probably gives Millie Bright nightmares. Wullaert is basically a cheat code for Belgium. In that 3-2 thriller, she was everywhere. She’s the all-time top scorer for her country for a reason, and she has this uncanny ability to exploit the space behind England’s marauding full-backs.
It was a wake-up call.
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England fans aren't used to seeing the Lionesses look "rattled," but that night in Belgium, they were. The Belgian crowd at Den Dreef was deafening, and the Red Flames played with a "nothing to lose" intensity that England struggled to match. It proved that in women's football right now, the gap between the "Elite Four" and the chasing pack is closing faster than people realize.
Revenge at Ashton Gate: A Tactical Masterclass
Fast forward to April 2025. The england vs belgium women's narrative took another massive turn. England finally got their revenge, and they didn't just win—they made a statement. A 5-0 thumping in Bristol.
What changed?
Wiegman stopped overcomplicating things. England went back to basics:
- Set-piece dominance: Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright both found the net from corners. Belgium simply couldn't handle the physical height of the English backline.
- The Aggie Beever-Jones Factor: Seeing the young Chelsea star get on the scoresheet was huge. It showed the depth England is building.
- Keira Walsh's breakthrough: Can you believe that was Keira's first ever England goal? A deflected strike from outside the box, but she’ll take it.
The 5-0 scoreline looked dominant, but for the first 20 minutes, Belgium looked dangerous. They have this counter-attacking blueprint that relies on Janice Cayman and Justine Vanhaevermaet winning second balls. If England isn't 100% focused, Belgium can hurt them in seconds.
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Why Belgium Struggles to Maintain the Upset
If Belgium can beat England 3-2, why did they lose 5-0 just a few months later? It’s a depth issue.
Belgium’s starting XI is legitimately world-class. Wullaert, De Caigny, and Evrard (who is a brick wall in goal when she’s on form) can compete with anyone. But international football is a squad game now. When injuries hit or when the game enters the 70th minute, England brings on players like Jess Park and Nikita Parris. Belgium just doesn't have that same reservoir of professional talent yet.
The Belgian Women’s Super League is growing, but it’s still miles behind the WSL in terms of funding and full-time professionalism. That fatigue shows in the latter stages of matches. In the 5-0 game, Belgium actually looked okay until about the hour mark. Then the wheels just came off.
Breaking Down the Head-to-Head Stats
If you're into the numbers, the england vs belgium women's history is actually quite one-sided if you look at the long term, but deceptive if you only look at the last three years.
England has won 11 of the 16 total meetings. That sounds like a blowout. But look closer. Between 2023 and 2025, the goal aggregate was much tighter than the historical 1970s and 80s results suggest. Belgium has become a team that consistently scores against England. Keeping a clean sheet against the Red Flames has become one of Wiegman’s biggest challenges.
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| Match Date | Competition | Result | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2023 | Nations League | Belgium 3-2 England | Wullaert double stuns the Lionesses. |
| April 4, 2025 | Nations League | England 5-0 Belgium | Total dominance at Ashton Gate. |
| April 8, 2025 | Nations League | Belgium 3-2 England | A bizarre repeat scoreline that shocked Europe. |
Wait, did you catch that? The April 2025 double-header was a total rollercoaster. England wins 5-0 at home, then travels to Belgium and loses 3-2 again just four days later. It’s wild. It’s like Belgium has a mental hold over them when they play on Belgian soil.
What This Means for the Future of the Lionesses
England is currently preparing for a massive 2026 and 2027. They’ve got World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland on the horizon. The lessons learned from the Belgium games are going to be vital.
You can't just "out-skill" every team. Sometimes you have to grind. The Belgium losses exposed a slight arrogance in England's high-line defense. Under Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir (the new Belgian coach who took over in 2025), the Red Flames have become even more organized. They don't try to play "pretty" football against England; they play "winning" football.
For England to stay at the top of the world rankings, they need to figure out how to handle physical, mid-block teams that refuse to move.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the trajectory of these two teams, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- Watch the Full-Back Positioning: When England plays Belgium, watch Lucy Bronze. If she’s too far forward, Belgium will trigger a long ball to Wullaert. It’s their primary weapon.
- Monitor the Midfield Pivot: England is a different team when Keira Walsh is marked out of the game. Belgium usually tasks a player like Missipo to follow her everywhere. If Walsh can’t breathe, England can’t build.
- The "Home" Factor: Statistics show that home-field advantage is massive in this specific matchup. England’s goal difference at home against Belgium is roughly +20. Away? It’s nearly zero.
- Squad Rotation: Wiegman is starting to integrate younger talent like Agnes Beever-Jones more frequently. This is essential to prevent the "Belgium Burnout" we saw in the 3-2 losses.
The rivalry isn't going anywhere. While England currently holds the bragging rights after their most recent qualification successes, Belgium has proven they aren't scared. They are the "banana skin" team of European football. Every time England sees "Belgium" on the draw sheet, you can bet there's a collective sigh of "here we go again" in the dressing room.
To stay updated on the next match-up, check the official UEFA Nations League portal for the 2026/27 seeds. Pay close attention to the injury reports for Wullaert and Hemp, as their presence usually dictates the entire tempo of this specific fixture. Whether it's a 5-0 rout or a 3-2 heartbreaker, this is one of the most underrated rivalries in the women's game.