World Cup holders Spain began their bid for a first UEFA Women’s EURO trophy by easily beating Portugal, Italy got the only goal against Belgium.
Group B:
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Spain 5-0 Portugal
Spain struck twice in the first seven minutes, Esther González scoring via an Olga Carmona ball and Vicky López sliding home a low cross from Mariona Caldentey.
A second quick brace followed close to half time, as Alèxia Putellas took down a delivery from Caldentey to finish calmly under pressure, then González doubled her tally with a tap-in when Claudia Pina’s cross came back off the far post.
Andreia Faria nearly got a late consolation for Portugal but goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares made a smart stop.
Spain made it 5-0 at the death, Salma Paralluelo crossing for Cristina Martín-Prieto to nod home.
Italy began the Group B fixtures with victory over Belgium, clinched with a first-half goal.
In a first-half of few real threats on goal, Belgium’s Tessa Wullaert was unable to make anything of two shots in quick succession in front of goal.
Then Italy struck just before the break, Arianna Caruso fizzing the ball past goalkeeper Lisa Lichtfus after being picked out by Lucia Di Guglielmo.
Lichtfus did keep out a backheel by Cristiana Girelli, her opposite number Laura Giuliani took a glancing blow to the head when bravely collecting the ball at the feet of Laura Deloose.
Michaela Cambiaghi should have hit the target for Italy approaching the last 10 minutes, but the Red Flames were unable to find an equaliser.
Fixtures for Friday 4 July – Group C:
Denmark v Sweden – live on ITV1 / STV at 5pm BST
Germany v Poland – live on ITV1 / STV at 8pm BST
