Sarina Wiegman mentioned “revenge” before the lionesses come back here, where they had been beaten 3-2 two years ago to hinder their chances of Olympic qualification, but it is fair to say that she would not have had that in mind.
In fact, it was much more obvious than the opponents of England who had the devil on their shoulder and their revenge in their minds.
England placed five years in Belgium in Ashton Gate last Friday in a brutal rout for visitors, and Leah Williamson and Co went to Louvain with a target on the back.
The England team had done a blow in this match, with Lauren James and Alessia Russo after Chloe Kelly of the door while the headache of Wiegman continued to grow.
And the Belgian Red Flames’ ” Red Flames came out hot, amazing the lionesses by the former Manchester City attacker, Tessa Wullaert, in the first minutes of the match, the Belgian captain, raising the shoulders of Niamh Charles and passing in front of the outstretched hand of Hannah Hampton.
Coffee had clearly not triggered when Justine Vanhaevermaet d’Everton doubled the advantage of hosts 10 minutes later, Wullaert returning before half an hour to triple the Belgians.
The lionesses were amazed by the three goals of Belgium in the first 30 minutes of the match
Brighton striker Michelle Agyemang marked 41 seconds after his beginnings for England
An emergency lioness group followed and a few moments later, Beth Mead won them a penalty, which she converted, keeping her composure in the middle of the noisy whistles of the crowd behind the goal.
Wiegman ripped off the changes at half-time, bringing Niamh Charles and Millie Bright for Jess Carter and Esme Morgan, and England finally started to find their feet but still looked lost without Russo.
With ten minutes to do, Michelle Agyemang, 19, who had received a late call after the withdrawal of Russo, came and scored after being on the field for a few seconds.
The brief cameo of Brighton striker a money lining in a differently disappointing evening for the Wiegman team.