Leading the score during the first half, Belgium seemed to take control of their U20 European Championship semi-final against Portugal. But three tries in the space of 10 minutes changed the situation before the break. The Lusitanians then ensured their qualification, depriving the Belgians of a second consecutive final and their big objective.
Both teams started this semi-final in minor mode, with a lot of mistakes on both sides. After a penalty conceded after 30 seconds (missed by Portugal), a first scrum and a first touch lost, Belgium gradually put its game in place and gained momentum.
A first Belgian highlight in the 22 shortly after the first quarter of an hour led to the opener, Christoph Brys flattening the ball carried following a touch (5-0).
The Belgians then seemed to gain the upper hand. A transmission error within 22 at half an hour, however, gave the Portuguese a try. A turning point in this semi-final. The end of the first half then proved complicated for our compatriots, who conceded two new tries before the break, reached with a score of 5-17.
Invigorated by the end of the first period, Portugal laid siege to the 22 Belgians at the start of the second. Belgium folded but ultimately only conceded a penalty (5-20).
Dominated, the Belgian team struggled to get moving again. The minutes ticked by and the Lusitanian team kept control. Especially since she scored with a corner try shortly after the hour mark (5-27).
The Belgians would then put the pressure back on. A try from Sohan Dealle Facquez gave hope to the black-yellow-red camp (12-27). But the Portuguese responded immediately with a penalty (12-30). The final rush by captain Lucas Michiels and others proved in vain.
Coming to Prague to try to win the European U20 title, Belgium therefore saw Portugal deprive it of a second consecutive final. The Belgians must now refocus on the small final to get third place in this European Championship. Facing the loser of the other semi-final between Romania and the Netherlands.
Read also: Belgium U20 – Portugal U20: the Belgian composition
Read also: The Belgian U20s, boys in the wind!
| The Belgian U20 XV against Portugal | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Malik Arbitrator | Kituro |
| 2. | Julien Masure | Frameries |
| 3. | Semih Sari | ROC |
| 4. | Tom Calomme | Soignies |
| 5. | Yannick Leenknecht | Kituro |
| 6. | Christoph Brys | Nevers |
| 7. | Delis Rivera | Kituro |
| 8. | Mattias Bodromian | Bourgoin Jallieu |
| 9. | Benjamin Ruddick | Kituro |
| 10. | Liam Duncan | Chambery |
| 11. | Antoine Vegis | Soignies |
| 12. | Lindberg John Ekendahl | Exeter Chiefs |
| 13. | Martin Marenne | IS LOCATED |
| 14. | Lucas Michiels | Dendermonde |
| 15. | Rory Askew | The University of Edimburg |
| Substitutes | ||
| 16. | Jules Youngman | Agen |
| 17. | Marcelin Marcon | Soignies |
| 18. | Arno Smets | Soignies |
| 19. | Sohan Dealle Facquez | Bayonne |
| 20. | Rourke Benadé | IS LOCATED |
| 21. | Patrick Hartley | Lansdowne FC |
| 22. | Edmond Guilmin | IS LOCATED |
| 23. | Miguel Fachada | Boitsfort |
| 24. | Oscar Aradzki | Kituro |
| 25. | Samuel Mochnacz | Trinity College |
| 26. | Noah Van Caldenborgh | Liège |
| 2024 U20 European Championship | |
|---|---|
| Quarter-finals | |
| 11/17 – 11:00 a.m. | Belgium – Switzerland 61-0 |
| 17/11 – 13h30 | Romania – Poland 48-22 |
| 17/11 – 16h00 | Netherlands – Germany 61-34 |
| 11/17 – 6:30 p.m. | Portugal – Czech Republic 59-7 |
| Semi-finals/Rankings | |
| 20/11 – 11:00 a.m. | Poland – Germany |
| 20/11 – 13h30 | Belgium – Portugal (half) |
| 20/11 – 16h00 | Romania – Netherlands (half) |
| 11/20 – 6:30 p.m. | Switzerland – Czech Republic |
Belgium
