U17s lose final on penalties as Belgium fly to the World Cup
U17s lose European final on penalties
It was a brutal finish. Belgium U17 lost the European Championship final to Italy U17 on Sunday, falling 1–1 (3–4 on penalties) after a tense match (1) (10). The young Devils came agonisingly close to the title, but the shootout went the wrong way.
Coach Sven Vermant was visibly emotional afterwards: "I can only say how proud I am, not just of this game, but of the whole tournament" (1).
It stings. This group was special.
Red Devils fly to the US today
Today is the day. The senior squad boards their flight at 13:40 and heads to Seattle, where the World Cup campaign gets real (2) (6).
The tournament kicks off Thursday, June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico (3). Everything that has happened so far – the friendlies, the training camps – was preamble. This is it.
Jetlag plan: special glasses and smart lighting
The nine-hour time difference to Seattle is no joke, and the KBVB has a detailed plan to handle it.
Players will use special glasses and tailored lighting to reset their body clocks (7) (8). Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne are both part of the programme, which also includes AI-driven monitoring for Courtois and carefully scheduled family time (8).
No stone left unturned before a ball is kicked.
De Bruyne looks fully fit again
The HLN Voetbalpodcast delivered the news every Belgium fan wanted to hear: "It's as if he was never injured" (4).
De Bruyne looked sharp in recent sessions, and the panel suggested we might see an even better version of Belgium when the tournament starts. A fully firing KDB changes everything.
Quarter-final is the minimum, says Van der Elst
Van der Elst has set the bar. The former international told Sporza: "I think the quarter-final is the minimum for the Red Devils at the World Cup" (13).
No hiding from expectations now. The squad, the staff, the fans – everyone knows what is required.
Team bonding on the final free day
Sunday was the last free day before departure, and the squad made it count.
Amadou Onana invited Diego Moreira out for dinner (11) (12). Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois hosted a birthday party for his wife Mishel Gerzig, and Maxim De Cuyper was given a farewell send-off ahead of the trip. Brandon Mechele, Charles De Ketelaere, Diego Moreira, Amadou Onana, Tuur Dierckx, Lukas Van Eenoo, and Thomas Van den Keybus were all in attendance (12).
The group looks tight. That matters when you are heading into a long tournament thousands of miles from home.
Sources
- 1. nieuwsblad.be — “Soms verdien je de overwinning en krijg je die niet”: trots en teleurstelling bij Sven Vermant na pijnlijke nederlaag van Belgische U17 in EK-finale
- 2. nieuwsblad.be — LIVE WK. Rode Duivels stappen om 13.40 uur het vliegtuig op, aanvoerder van Irak 7 (!) uur ondervraagd bij aankomst in VS
- 3. hln.be — LIVE WK voetbal | De spits zeven uur (!) lang ondervraagd, de teamfotograaf mag zelfs VS niet in: hopelijk kennen Rode Duivels straks minder problemen dan Irak
- 4. hln.be — 🎧“Dan gaan we een nog veel beter België zien”: HLN Voetbalpodcast ziet dat de glimlach terug is bij Kevin De Bruyne
- 6. hln.be — Het kan nu écht beginnen: Rode Duivels vertrekken vandaag richting de Verenigde Staten
- 7. nieuwsblad.be — Sleepless in Seattle? Hoe Rode Duivels met speciale brillen en verlichting jetlag en 9 uur tijdsverschil willen overwinnen
- 8. hln.be — Van AI voor Thibaut Courtois tot peperdure ‘family time’: dit is het slimme masterplan van de Rode Duivels voor het WK
- 10. nieuwsblad.be — Tranen bij piepjonge Rode Duivels: Belgische U17 verliezen EK-finale tegen Italië na strafschoppenthriller
- 11. hln.be — Zelfs op hun vrije dag zijn ze samen: Rode Duivel Amadou Onana nodigt Diego Moreira uit voor etentje
- 12. sporza.be — Verjaardagsfeestje ten huize Courtois en De Cuyper in stijl uitgezwaaid: zo beleefden Rode Duivels hun vrije dag
- 13. sporza.be — Van der Elst: "Ik vind wel dat kwartfinale het minimum is voor de Rode Duivels op het WK"