West Ham United women’s team defender Amber Tysiak felt a huge sense of pride after her Belgium side overcame European champions England to record their first victory of the UEFA Women's Nations League campaign on Tuesday night.
Having helped the Hammers pick up five points from matches against Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in March, the 25-year-old departed for international duty to face the Lionesses in a Nations League double-header in Group A3.
While Belgium fell to a 5-0 loss at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate, they bounced back to achieve a 3-2 success over Sarina Wiegman’s side courtesy of a blistering first-half performance at King Power at Den Dreef.
Tysiak once again started at the heart of her country’s defence and her team were celebrating after just four minutes thanks to Tessa Wullaert’s slotted strike, and their advantage was doubled only 12 minutes later through Everton’s Justine Vanhaevermaet. A poacher's finish from Wullaert then made it three on half-an-hour, putting Belgium in dreamland.
England made things interesting ten minutes before the break when Beth Mead converted from 12 yards, and then reduced the deficit to the one goal in the 81st minute as Michelle Agyemang volleyed home on her Lionesses debut.
But Tysiak and her team held strong to see off the visitors in Leuven, Belgium, to get off the mark in the competition.
“It felt incredible to play against England, they’re such a strong team with so much history in the game,” said the women’s team defender.
“That’s how we saw it last Friday and stepping on the pitch, you felt the intensity and quality of them.
“But also, there’s a huge sense of pride to be able to compete with them, and then be able to come away with the win. It was just amazing. Moments like that are what you dream about as a football player.”
Despite their maiden victory, Belgium still sit at the foot of the table after four games with only two remaining. Those fixtures come at home to top-of-the-table Spain and away to third-placed Portugal at the end of May and beginning of June - their last competitive tests before their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 endeavours commence against Italy in July.
“Winning our first match in the Nations League was a big, big boost,” admitted Tysiak.
“I think we needed that one and it sets the tone for the rest of the campaign now. It really brings the team together.
“We’ve been working hard and it’s nice to see that effort paying off. There’s still a long way to go with two difficult games, but the three points gives us a lot of positive energy moving forwards.”
Tysiak will now return to Chadwell Heath to prepare for the final four games of the Hammers’ Barclays Women’s Super League season.
Seventh in the table, Rehanne Skinner’s side are full of confidence after coming from behind to draw late at leaders Chelsea before the international break, and now have over a week to prepare for the visit of Manchester United at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Saturday 19 April.
“I’m taking a lot of confidence back with me to West Ham,” said Tysiak. “Playing well at international level definitely gives you a mental edge.
“I feel sharp, motivated and I’m excited to bring that form back to the Club, and keep pushing myself and the team forward, and I’m really looking forward to the four games we have remaining.”
