Thibaut Courtois Returns to Belgium Squad
Thibaut Courtois returns to the Belgium squad after almost two years, following a dispute with former coach Domenico Tedesco. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has been named in the Belgium squad for their upcoming Nations League qualifying fixtures against Ukraine, marking his long-awaited comeback to the national team.
The Dispute with Domenico Tedesco
Courtois last appeared for Belgium in June 2023, but a public dispute with Tedesco over the national team captaincy led to his absence from the squad. The disagreement caused a rift, but with the hiring of Rudi Garcia as the new head coach in January, Courtois has been invited back to the team.
Rudi Garcia’s Fresh Approach
Garcia, who took over the Belgium managerial position in January, is keen to start with a “blank slate.” In a press conference, Garcia emphasized that he would not dwell on past issues:
“I won’t see the players until Monday, but we’ll talk to the leaders again about what happened. But after that, I’m not going to keep dwelling on what happened years ago. Otherwise, we won’t make any progress.”
Garcia also discussed resolving the national team captaincy situation, mentioning that Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku are all potential candidates for the role.
Koen Casteels’ Response to Courtois’ Return
However, Courtois’ comeback has not been welcomed by all. Koen Casteels, who has been Belgium’s first-choice goalkeeper in recent years, voiced his discontent with the decision. Casteels even announced that he would no longer be available for selection after hearing the news of Courtois’ return. Speaking on the Belgian podcast MidMid, he expressed his frustration:
“It’s strange that the football association has turned 180 degrees and is rolling out the red carpet and welcoming him back with open arms… I find it difficult to accept that the football association has changed its stance so suddenly and is now welcoming him back with open arms. To me, this goes against the principles and values I believe a team sport and a sporting organization should uphold.”
Belgium’s Upcoming Matches Against Ukraine
Belgium will face Ukraine on Thursday for the first leg of their Nations League qualifying match, followed by the second leg on March 23, where they will host Ukraine at home.
