National coach Ives Serneels wants to ensure retention in the A division: “But the most important thing is that we go to the European Championship with Red Flames”

The first leg against Hungary will take place on Friday (5:45 PM) in the Pancho Arena of Felcsut west of Budapest. The return is scheduled four days later at Den Dreef in Leuven (Tuesday, February 27 at 8 p.m.). If the Flames can maintain themselves in the A division, the road to the 2025 European Championship will also be a lot easier – something Serneels realizes all too well. The away match in Hungary will be an anniversary match for the national coach, who will then earn his 150th cap.

“If we stay in the A division, we have the chance to qualify directly by finishing in the top two of our group, which contains top European countries,” Serneels said at a press conference on Monday. “Otherwise we still have to play extra games to qualify, which we also have to do if we play in the B division. From that point of view the difference is quite small.”

“On the other hand, a series of defeats is not always good for morale and winning games in the B division can give us a boost. We showed that we had to rise above ourselves to beat countries like the Netherlands and England. We did that. Now we have to confirm that against countries of our level. But the most important thing is that we go to the European Championships.”

Jassina Blom wants to beat Hungary “to stay on an upward spiral”

“Belgium is the favorite,” said the 29-year-old Tenerife attacker on Monday at a press moment in the national training center in Tubize. “We don’t know Hungary very well yet, but several players play football in Italy and Germany and that is quite something. Individually they have quality. It is up to us to show that we can be better collectively.”

The Belgian football women were referred to the jump-offs after finishing third in their group in the A division (after the Netherlands and England, but ahead of Scotland). “We did well against the Netherlands and England, but we fell short against Scotland. It is important to show that we can deliver convincing performances in matches against feasible opponents. The games against Hungary are important if we want to continue our upward spiral.”

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If the Flames can maintain themselves in the A division, the road to the 2025 European Championship will also be a lot easier. “There is a big difference between the A and B divisions. The path is more direct via the A-division and it is important for Belgium to go to the European Championship. A place at a European Championship has a clear impact on football in the country. Just look at Spain, the world champions. Women’s football has become extremely popular there. It also helps to take many steps forward from a marketing point of view. I hope that Belgium can do the same one day,” Blom concluded.

Tine De Caigny has confidence

In the Hungarian camp they are happy to put the pressure on Belgium. De Caigny agrees but remains cautious. “We are favorites, which makes sense when you look at the rankings,” she said at a press conference on Monday. “But we expect a tough match. We will have to prepare well to be at our best. If that’s the case, we have every chance of winning. Everyone will have to be 100 percent to bring back what we have already shown against the Netherlands and England. If we play football at that level, we can definitely win.”

“The previous jump-off round (against Portugal in the World Cup qualifiers, ed.) is not a good memory. We had a bad day, but we have to put that behind us. We showed what we could do against countries like the Netherlands and England. We have to take that with us to beat Hungary.”

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