The European team has just continued to grow in confidence and performance from 2018 when they came fourth in the World Cup. 

Belgium started well, staying 6 points adrift of the Opals for much of the first quarter. 

But Ezi Macbegor was a real spark in an otherwise slow start for the Australians at the Saitama Stadium. 

A distinct lack of three pointers held the Opals back going into the second quarter down by 4. 

Australian coach and four-time Olympian Sandy Brondello was animated at the break but far from rattled. If anyone knows about the great Opal spirit and what they are capable of, its Brondello. 

The Australians came out firing in the 2nd quarter, Macbegor continuing to the lead the way and when Kayla George drained back-to-back threes to put the Opals up by 5 points. 

But the game remained tight, and Belgium snuck back in front in front by one. 

It wasn’t long before Katie Ebzery started to fire up and her 11 points in the first half along with George’s 10 matched with the dominant Macbegor’s 14 points had them up 41 -37 at half time. 

The lead chopped and changed several times in the third term, the Opals struggling to maintain their rhythm, preparation incredibly tight for the Australian side leading into the Olympics, and the struggle to find their feet began to show. 

The Opals fighting spirit kept driving them along and kept them in the game, a couple of Bec Allen three-point bombs and one by Tess Magden on the buzzer saw them go to the final break up by one point, 57-56. 

The final quarter and Belgium began to dominate, stretching their lead out to 10, Emma Meesseman, the Washington mystic star, having a dominate game with 28 points and was unstoppable all over the court. 

Australia just could not match the Belgium's in the end falling 70-85, and it was not the start they wanted, but there is a long way to go in this Olympic Games. 

Tim Gilbert