Red Flames enter new era at Euro 2025
The Red Flames are heading to their first international tournament without Yves Serneels. The coach was dismissed late last year, after leading Belgium’s female national football team for 14 years, and it is up to Elisabet Gunnarsdottir to lead the Flames into a new era at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
Until 2011, Belgium’s women football team was known for its poor results, having never managed to qualify for a major tournament. That changed when Serneels took over as head coach. He oversaw promising qualification campaigns for Euro 2013 and the World Cup in 2015, prompting the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) to ramp up investments in the team.
Under Serneels’ leadership, the Red Flames flourished, leading to their first-ever participation in a European Championship in 2017. Despite solid performances, the team did not qualify for the 2019 World Cup. But they did secure a ticket for Euro 2022, leading to a historic quarter-final finish.
"14 years is a long time. The magic had run out”
Last year, Serneels and the Flames qualified for Euro 2025, their third consecutive European Championship. But the qualification campaign did not go as smoothly as expected. The Flames finished third in their group, only gathering four points in six matches, and had to win the play-offs to clinch their place in the tournament.
The rocky qualifiers led the RBFA to dismiss Serneels in January. While his exit had been expected to happen in the near future, the timing was a surprise to many. “I expected for it to happen after the European Championship,” former Red Flame Imke Courtois told Sporza. “But 14 years is a long time. The magic had run out.”
The RBFA soon appointed Serneels’ successor: Elisabet Gunnarsdottir. With over two decades of experience coaching women’s teams, the Icelander was seen by the FA as as the ideal candidate to bring a new dynamic to the stagnating Flames.
Gunnarsdottir’s tenure began with defeats to reigning world champions Spain and European champions England in the Nations League. The Red Flames then impressed by convincingly beating Portugal, avoiding relegation from the competition’s top flight.
“The first half was the worst we've played under my management”
But a 5-0 defeat in a friendly against France - meant to be the last big test before Euro 2025 - has sown fresh doubts about the team's capabilities.
The coach did not mince her words after the match. “The first half was the worst we've played under my management,” she said. “We were far too passive. I am really angry about that; it's something I take very seriously. I take full responsibility.”
Tough group stage
Belgium will have to switch gears if they want to perform well at the European Championship. The Flames drew a difficult group, with Italy, Portugal and Spain. Beating the world champions seems unlikely, so Belgium will have to aim for second place to survive the group stage.
While she believes in her team, Gunnarsdottir remains cautious when it comes to predicting results. “I don't want to set goals in terms of outcomes. That can lead to disappointment,” she said during a recent press conference. “We focus only on the next match. Right now, that’s Italy. That’s where our full attention lies.”
UEFA Women's Euro 2025 began in Switzerland on 2 July with 16 teams. Belgium face Italy on 3 July, Spain on 7 July and Portugal on 11 July. The final will be held on 27 July in Basel.
Elisabet Gunnarsdottir © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR
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