On the afternoon of May 28th (Beijing Time), the Belgian national team announced its preliminary 25-man squad for the 2024 UEFA European Championship. Surprisingly, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was not included in the list, despite having fully recovered from his shoulder injury. This decision didn’t come as a shock to Belgian media, as Courtois had already declared in December last year, following a severe injury, that he would not participate in the Euro held in Germany to avoid further risks.
In assembling the squad, head coach Tedesco relied on key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Leandro Trossard. Courtois’s exclusion also stems from an incident during the qualifying period when he threatened to leave the team after not being awarded the captain’s armband.
During the 2023/24 season, Courtois returned to Real Madrid after a long recovery and promptly demonstrated his prowess, securing a likely starting spot in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. However, his differences with the Belgian national team coach led to his exclusion from the Euros.
Tedesco explained, “Courtois made it clear a few months ago that he understands his physical condition and feels unprepared for such high-intensity matches, with games every three or four days. That was the last piece of information we considered.”
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Belgium’s defense will inevitably appear weaker without a stabilizing presence like Courtois. This choice could prove self-defeating for the nation.
Belgium is grouped with Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine in the 2024 Euros. Coach Tedesco’s team sees the group stage as a relatively manageable challenge, hoping to progress further towards their ambitious goals.
