Belgium overwhelm Czech Republic in the second quarter and meet the Netherlands in the European Championship final: 26‑14

The host nation holds on for one quarter

The Czech Republic, who had never beaten Belgium, played in front of their home crowd, with drums in the hall. Petr Pesak opened the scoring after eight seconds and Lisa Pauwels equalised six seconds later with a run-in. Lukas Holik kept his team close with a free pass and a shot: after the first quarter it was 4‑3 to Belgium. Lisa Pauwels had already scored three by then.

Ten against two in the second quarter

In the second quarter Belgium pulled away. Wout van Elsacker scored three times within two and a half minutes, twice with a run-in, and Joke van Maldeghem added two. After Glenn Pauwels' penalty made it 10‑4, the Czech Republic called a time-out, but Belgium kept scoring.

Substitute Rostislav Kortus made it 12‑5, after which Kian Amorgaste set the half-time score at 14‑5 from a penalty. The second quarter ended 10‑2.

Read more: Oranje pull away from Czech Republic in the second quarter: 36‑6

The Van Maldeghem twins after the break

Van Elsacker opened the second half after seven seconds with his fourth goal. Twin sisters Joke and Lise van Maldeghem scored four times between them in the third quarter, and at 20‑7 the gap was thirteen. For the Czech Republic, Petr Snajdr, Petr Galicek and Jan Theissig scored from a penalty and Jitka Pavlickova with a shot: after three quarters it was 20‑9.

Yellow for Amorgaste

In the final quarter Belgium made plenty of substitutions, including Amber Engels and Arne van Damme. Van Damme made it 25‑11 with a long shot. Just over five minutes before the end Amorgaste was shown yellow: after a foul on him he swung his arm into Kortus' face, and the referee gave the ball to the Czech Republic after all. Jordy Antes came on for him.

The Czech Republic scored five times in the final quarter, Nela Kubu twice in quick succession. Both teams missed two penalties in that phase. Lise van Maldeghem scored her fifth goal from a penalty, Jitka Stepanova made it 26‑14 with a run-in.

Joke van Maldeghem, Lisa Pauwels and Van Elsacker scored four each. For the Czech Republic, Kubu was top scorer with three. At the 2025 World Games Belgium beat the Czech Republic 26‑10.

Saturday the final against the Netherlands

Belgium have won all six of their matches at this European Championship; the Czech Republic's only earlier defeat at the tournament was against the Netherlands. On Saturday at 15:15 Belgium play the final against the Netherlands, who beat Germany 35‑11 in the first semi-final. The Czech Republic play Germany for bronze at 13:30.