Munich, July 7 EST: It started with a flick. It ended with a firework. And in between, Spain gave us a masterclass in controlled chaos—a six-goal performance that felt less like a football match and more like a declaration of war on the rest of Europe.
Spain 6, Belgium 2—but don’t let the numbers fool you. This wasn’t just a beatdown. It was a spectacle, a statement, and maybe, just maybe, the moment the tournament bent in red and gold.
Claudia Pina’s Rocket: The Kind You Remember
Let’s just get to it. Claudia Pina’s goal—86th minute, ball at her feet, nothing fancy, just a quick glance and boom—top right corner, kissed the crossbar on its way in like it knew it was special.
You could feel the shift in the stadium. Some fans gasped, others laughed out loud in disbelief. Even the Belgian keeper, Nicky Evrard, didn’t dive. She didn’t flinch. What’s the point when a shot bends physics?
That’s the kind of goal you tell your grandkids about. That’s the kind of goal that writes you into the tournament’s folklore.
Putellas Plays Chess While Everyone Else Plays Checkers
But don’t let the late-game thunder distract from who ran the show: Alexia Putellas, and it wasn’t close.
First, she pounced on a bobbled clearance to slot home coolly in the 22nd. Then, as if possessed by some footballing god, she slid into the box late in the 81st, found space where none should exist, and buried her second of the night.
Two goals, two assists. History made. According to The Guardian, it’s a first in Women’s Euro history. Not that anyone in the Spain camp is surprised. This is what she does.
Putellas doesn’t just pass. She composes symphonies in motion. She’s always two touches ahead—seeing lanes before they open, pulling defenders like puppets. You want to teach kids how to play the game? Show them 90 minutes of Alexia and throw away the textbook.
A Scoreline That Could’ve Been Worse
Look, credit to Belgium. Seriously. Justine Vanhaevermaet nodded in a slick goal, and Hannah Eurlings carved one past Spain’s back line that briefly gave their bench hope.
But here’s the truth—they were playing catch-up from the first whistle. Every time they blinked, Spain scored again.
Irene Paredes rose like a skyscraper in the 39th to nod in the third. Esther González slammed home the fourth after halftime. Mariona Caldentey added the fifth with an effortless slot like she was finishing a drill in training.
Belgium chased shadows. They weren’t bad. Spain were just that good.
This Isn’t a Group Stage. It’s a Spanish Tour
That’s 11 goals in two matches—more than some teams manage in entire tournaments. Portugal? Flattened. Belgium? Torn apart. And now comes Italy, who’ve got one match to figure out how to survive the tsunami.
Spain aren’t just winning. They’re performing. Every flick, every one-touch pass, every surge down the flanks—this is football at its most intoxicating. Coach Montse Tomé could’ve started her bench and probably still won by three.
And yes, there’s still a long way to go. Quarterfinals, semis, the weight of expectation—all of it lies ahead. But right now? Spain look like the team with the keys to the kingdom. Everyone else is just hoping for a safe draw.
For Belgium, Only Regret
You feel for them. You really do. There’s talent there—Eurlings, Vanhaevermaet, De Caigny—but this wasn’t their night. Maybe it was never going to be.
They needed grit. They needed luck. They got neither.
Now their fate hangs on the result of Portugal vs. Italy, and even that feels like reaching for straws. They’ll replay the missed tackles and lost marks in their heads. But deep down? They know. Spain didn’t steal this game. They took it, owned it, and lit it on fire.
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A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.
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