Thibaut Courtois will not be part of Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign, missing the opening match against Slovakia at the Frankfurt Arena on Monday. The goalkeeper was not included in the 26-man squad that traveled to Germany, with Koen Casteels taking his place between the posts. This is the first major international tournament since Euro 2012 that Courtois has missed with Belgium.
Courtois has been a mainstay for Belgium in every major tournament since the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, a serious ACL injury in his left knee sustained last year ruled him out for the majority of this season. While he returned to action towards the end of the season, featuring in Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League final victory against Borussia Dortmund, he was not selected for Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad.
Despite his recovery, it is believed that Courtois’s exclusion stems from a tense situation with coach Domenico Tedesco. Allegations of a breach of trust from Courtois regarding the captaincy of the national team have been reported, adding to the existing tension between the two.
Addressing the situation, Belgian football association’s technical director Franck Vercauteren said in a press conference, “Unfortunately, we’ll play the European Championship without him. So now we no longer have to focus on that. It is the job of the federation to smooth out the wrinkles. That is absolutely a must.” He added, “We never doubted his qualities or that he would not be fit. So we must stop the matter now. Signals have been given that we must respect.”
The captaincy dispute and Courtois’s absence cast a shadow over Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign as they navigate a challenging group with Sweden, Russia, and Finland. Whether the team can overcome this internal turmoil and achieve success remains to be seen.
