Italy squeeze past Belgium at Euro 2025 as grieving Portugal await Spain

Italy got off to a winning start at Women's Euro 2025 with Thursday's 1-0 success over Belgium as world champions Spain get ready to begin their championship bid against a Portugal side grieving the death of men's international Diogo Jota.

Arianna Caruso thumped in the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time to give the Italians all three points in Sion and provisional first place in Group B.

"It's the result we wanted. We grew into the game because we knew we had to manage our emotions for the first game," said Italy coach Andreea Soncin.

"As the match when on we loosened up and out quality showed through."

Bayern Munich midfielder Caruso's strike was the only real highlight of a game which began with a moment's silence for Portugal men's star Jota who died in a car crash in Spain earlier on Thursday.

Matches on Thursday and Friday will feature the tribute to 28-year-old Liverpool forward Jota whose death alongside his younger brother Andre Silva stunned the football community.

Portugal's women's team will line up against Spain later on Thursday in Bern where fans of both sides will join in honouring the memory of Jota.

Aitana Bonmati is on the bench for Spain as she continues her recovery from viral meningitis which briefly looked to have threatened her tournament.

Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati returned to training with the Spain squad on Wednesday and is available to play as a substitute.

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