Despite helping Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, Thibaut Courtois will not feature for Belgium at Euro 2024.
The 32-year-old suffered serious knee ligament damage ahead of the 2023/24 season but managed to return to Madrid for five games, including the Champions League final where he kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Borussia. Dortmund.
“He was honest and clear,” Tedesco said of the decision to leave Courtois out of the squad. “He knows his body best, and it’s different to play every three or four days during the tournament.”
“So, all things considered, we didn’t think he was ready for the Euros.” Of course, now we are planning with players who can play.”
However, the cool relationship between Courtois and Tedesco could have played a role in the goalkeeper’s lapse.
Their relationship soured last year after Courtois stormed out of training in Belgium over a row over the captaincy.
Courtois wanted the captain’s armband for the Euro 2024 home qualifier to celebrate his 100th cap, but was denied when Tedesco appointed Romelu Lukaku as captain.
Courtois was furious and said it felt like a “breach of trust”.
Euro 2024 will be Belgium’s first major tournament without Courtois since 2012, with the goalkeeper set to play all matches at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as Euros 2016 and 2020.