Luxembourg Concludes World Cup Qualifiers with Home Defeat to Belgium

On Tuesday 9 June 2026, Luxembourg’s women’s national football team concluded their Women’s European Qualifiers campaign for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a home defeat against Belgium in front of 1,053 spectators at the Stade de la Frontière in Esch-sur-Alzette.

Heading into the match, Cristina Correia and Daniel Zirbes' team were bottom of Group B4 without a point, having suffered a 6-0 defeat away to the Red Flames on Friday 5 June 2026.

The group leaders started brightly and threatened as early as the second minute when Hannah Eurlings struck from around eighteen metres following an attack down the left wing, but her effort drifted wide of the target.

Luxembourg, however, created the best chance of the opening stages. In the fifth minute, a cross from the right found Hannah Dietrich inside the penalty area, but Belgium goalkeeper Nicky Evrard reacted well to turn her effort behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Laura Miller met the delivery at the far post, only to see her effort crash against the crossbar.

Belgium continued to push forward and Hannah Eurlings was again involved four minutes later, but Luxembourg goalkeeper Lucie Schlime reacted quickly to gather the ball before the forward could capitalise.

The visitors eventually made their pressure count in the 20th minute. Jill Janssens delivered a cross from the right and captain Tessa Wullaert guided a first-time finish into the bottom-right corner, leaving Lucie Schlime with no chance.

Belgium nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Jill Janssens rounded the goalkeeper, but pushed the ball too far ahead of herself and the opportunity went begging. In the same passage of play, Lucie Schlime required treatment after a collision but was able to continue.

The visitors came close again in the 27th minute when Tessa Wullaert struck a direct free-kick from approximately 25 metres out on the left side, only to see her effort crash against the crossbar.

Belgium continued to dominate possession and create chances, but a combination of defensive resilience from the Red Lionesses and occasional wastefulness in front of goal prevented the visitors from extending their lead.

Belgium doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Following another corner delivery, Amber Tysiak rose highest inside the box and headed home to make it 2-0 for head coach Elisabeth Gunnarsdottir's team before the interval.

Reflecting on the opening half, Luxembourg captain Laura Miller told Chronicle.lu: “I think the first half was a pretty good performance from us. We could even have been 1-0 up, but in the end there were still some details missing, both defensively and offensively, particularly inside the box.”

Speaking about the half-time team talk, she added: “The coaches corrected a few defensive details because Belgium were creating danger at the far post. We had to focus on that in the second half. At the same time, they reminded us that we had also created chances and were capable of scoring ourselves.”

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Belgium controlling much of the play and Luxembourg finding it difficult to threaten Nicky Evrard's goal.

Belgium extended their lead in the 61st minute when Marie Detruyer reacted quickest to a loose ball at the far post and fired her effort into the roof of the net to make it 3-0.

Luxembourg came close to reducing the deficit three minutes later. Kimberley Dos Santos raced through one-on-one with Nicky Evrard, rounded a defender, but could only direct her shot straight at the Belgian goalkeeper.

The visitors responded almost immediately. In the 67th minute, Amber Tysiak scored her second goal of the evening to increase Belgium's advantage to 4-0.

Belgium continued to dominate proceedings during the closing stages and eventually found further reward for their attacking pressure. Hannah Eurlings converted a low cross from Gioia Fiorucci in the 83rd minute before Isabelle Iliano added another following a sustained spell of pressure. Moments later, Hannah Eurlings headed home Jill Janssens' delivery, as three goals in the space of five minutes sealed a 7-0 victory for the visitors.

For Luxembourg, the evening also marked the final international appearances of two long-serving players. Amy Thompson, the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Red Lionesses, and Andreia Machado were both honoured before their last match in Luxembourg colours.

In the other Group B4 fixture, Scotland recorded a 5-1 away win against Israel and secured top spot in the group on goal difference ahead of Belgium. The Red Flames finished second, while Luxembourg ended the campaign bottom of the standings.

Starting line-ups:

Luxembourg: Lucie Schlime (GK); Andreia Faria Dos Santos; Andreia Machado; Emma Kremer; Marta Estevez; Edina Kocan; Laura Miller (C); Charlotte Schmit; Hannah Dietrich; Anna Miny; Kimberley Dos Santos.

Belgium: Nicky Evrard (GK); Amber Tysiak; Isabelle Iliano; Aurélie Reynders; Hannah Eurlings; Tessa Wullaert (C); Janice Cayman; Zenia Mertens; Jill Janssens; Marie Detruyer; Saar Janssen.

(Caption: Laura Miller, Luxembourg’s women’s national football team captain; Credit: Ievgenii Karanov)