An early lead does not guarantee the Diablotins' final

From the seventh minute, the Diablotins take the lead against Wales U21, then benefit from the dismissal of a Welsh player before halftime, which leaves Belgium in a position of an easy victory before the second half and they seem to be in control of the game.

A lightning start but a laborious match

After this early goal, Belgium seemed on a royal road to secure an easy win. The dismissal of the Welsh defender shortly before halftime reinforced this advantage, but the Diablotins struggled to maintain dominance in the second half.

The young compatriots showed their limits, offering unconvincing football as soon as they returned to the dressing room. Coach Gill Swerts admitted that “it was certainly not a good match, a carbon copy of the one from last Friday against Belarus.”

He added that, despite an initial promise, “we failed to impose our tempo; our off‑the‑ball play lacked depth.” A slump set in from the start of the second half, affecting the team’s effectiveness.

The Diablotins hold out against the Welsh thanks to an early goal

Towards the group finale against Denmark

For the top spot in the group, everything will be decided next Tuesday in Denmark. The Diablotins have a three‑point lead over their opponents, who lost 2‑0 at Westerlo in the first leg, but they also have one more match to play.

Gill Swerts said: “We are at the top of the table, our destiny is in our hands. Denmark must win. They won’t reveal themselves immediately, but there will be more space than in the last two matches.” He highlighted the strength of the Danish team, made up of very high‑level players.

Despite the difficulties, the Diablotins did not concede at the end of the match, a recurring improvement according to Swerts. This progress could be decisive to keep the group lead against Denmark.