Thibaut Courtois, frustrated at not having been named captain against Austria on Saturday, has decided not to make the trip to Estonia where Belgium must play a qualifying match for Euro 2024 on Tuesday, we learned Monday with the Federation. In the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, the usual captain, it was Romelu Lukaku who wore the armband against Austria.
“After the match, Thibaut suddenly wanted to talk to me and told me he was going home because he was disappointed and felt insulted,” coach Domenico Tedesco explained on Monday evening. “In my eyes, he is the best goalkeeper in the world. I appreciate him, as a goalkeeper but also as a human being. I am surprised and shocked that he felt offended and disappointed,” continued the German coach at a press conference.
“In March we decided that Kevin would be the captain, that there would be two vice-captains: Lukaku and Courtois. I spoke to them before the game, given Kevin’s absence. For Austria it was Lukaku, and for Estonia it was Courtois. The latter told me immediately after the match that he no longer agreed, ”concluded Tedesco who would probably have done well without this affair.
According to Belgian media, the Real Madrid goalkeeper’s teammates were surprised by their partner’s decision. “It is a deplorable situation. I would prefer Thibaut to be there, but the group process is important. It is certain that this process is now disrupted and that a solution will have to be found, ”said defender Jan Vertonghen, the most capped player in the selection, on Monday evening.
In the absence of Courtois, it is Strasbourg goalkeeper Matz Sels who will defend the Belgian goals in Estonia. Held in check by Austria on Saturday in Brussels (1-1) where … Courtois had been celebrated for his 100th selection, Belgium had started qualifying for the Euro with a demonstration in Sweden in March (3-0) . The Courtois affair now puts a damper on this good start to the journey since Tedesco succeeded Roberto Martinez after the 2022 World Cup last winter.