Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has made the tough decision to leave Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois out of the Euro 2024 squad due to ongoing injuries that have plagued his season. The 32-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee last August, followed by a meniscus injury in March. Despite returning to action at the beginning of the month, Courtois did not make the final squad as Tedesco felt he was not fully fit to compete in the Euros.
Tedesco praised Courtois for his honesty and self-awareness regarding his physical condition, emphasizing the difference between playing a few matches and participating in a major tournament like the Euros. With Courtois out, the coach will have to choose between Koen Casteels, Matz Sels, and Thomas Kaminski as the team’s number one goalkeeper.
The Belgian squad features several veteran players like Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, and Arthur Vermeeren who will provide experience and leadership to the team. Along with them are younger talents such as Aster Vranckx and Jeremy Doku. The team is drawn in Group E alongside Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine and will play friendly matches against Montenegro and Luxembourg before heading to Germany for the tournament.
Players from clubs across Europe have been included in the squad, with Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Yannick Carrasco among the notable names in the team. As Belgium prepares for the Euros, Tedesco is confident that his other goalkeepers selected for the tournament will be able to handle any challenges that come their way.
Despite being left off of Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad due to ongoing injuries, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains optimistic about his chances of making future international teams.
“I’m disappointed about not being selected for this tournament,” said Courtois on Monday afternoon.
“But I understand where Domenico (Tedesco) is coming from,” he added.
“I know I need more time to recover from my injuries,” said Courtois.
“I hope I can get back on track soon so I can play again at a high level.”
