Will the fairy tale of the red flame continue in the European Championship? “If we want to beat Sweden, now is the time” | European Women’s Championship 2022

Ives Serneels has announced 11 newbies and we’re finding some new names in it.

Laura De Neve once again takes her place in defense alongside Sari Kees. Marie Minart was rewarded with a springboard for her good substitute against the Italians. Laura Deleuze also gets her chance. The wing defender replaces Vangheluwe.

“If we want to beat Sweden, now is the time,” says former Flame player Tine Schryvers, who played for one year with Sweden’s Kristianstads DFF.

Two players are already positive and off tonight, including regular right-back Hannah Glass. “In Sweden, they are very secretive about corona cases,” he added. An evil can play in favor of red flames?

Hermine Vanbeveren describes the night’s decor: “The stadium does not exude a sense of joy.” “The terraces are open from the corners, the roof is made of corrugated iron. It doesn’t look good, but OK, it will be quite full.”

The stadium will be filled with Swedish fans, who will turn out in droves. However, Red Flames would also be able to count on support. “The Belgian fans have already proven that they can create a lot of atmosphere.”

National team coach Yves Cernells knows it won’t be easy tonight. It’s like ‘we’re playing against a great team’.

“We know it will not be an easy match. Sweden has players with a lot of individual qualities and experience. We have to be ready from the first minute.”

Serneels can choose from an entire selection tonight. “Everyone has trained. Without unforeseen circumstances, we are complete, everyone is fit.”

30-year-old Justin Vanheivermaet is the only Red Flame to play in the Women’s Premier League, mid-engine Reading FC. The Swedish national team has seven players from the strong English championship, such as striker Stena Blackstein who plays for the vice-champion Arsenal. “They are top internationals who compete against other top players every week,” Vanhaevermaet says. “They can definitely use those experiences in matches like tomorrow.”

With their place in the knockout stage, the Flames now achieved their goal. Sweden then traveled to England with the goal of winning the title, so they will feel more pressure, Vanhevermaet believes. “They said beforehand that they wanted to go far, while we wanted to get into the quarter-finals. If you look at it that way, the pressure is in their camp. But we also put some pressure on ourselves because we feel we can do something.”