That's a bummer! - World star might miss our home Euro Championships
Belgium might face a challenge in goalkeeping for their upcoming home Euro Championships next year.
The Real Madrid keeper, Thibaut Courtois (31), is currently involved in a tense disagreement with the former head coach, Domenico Tedesco (38), which led to his temporary absence from the Belgium national team.
According to recent reports, Courtois made negative comments in the dressing room after a draw with Austria (1:1) and criticized his team-mates, eventually leaving the squad for the next game against Estonia (3:0)[1].
Now, with Courtois' future in the Belgium national team being assessed by the new coach, Rudi Garcia, the possibility of his return is being considered, with Eden Hazard playing a role in convincing him to return to international duty[1].
In the interim, Real Madrid loaned out Kepa (29) from Chelsea as Courtois' replacement. The Spaniard has since appeared in 13 competitive matches between the royal posts, conceding ten goals in the process.
Meanwhile, Wolfsburg keeper Koen Casteels (31) has established himself as the new number one in the Belgian national team. If Courtois' return is unlikely, Casteels is expected to take charge in goal for the tournament.
Due to the ongoing situation, Rudi Garcia has not yet had to make a decisive call on Courtois' participation in the European Championships.
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- Despite the situation, Kevin de Bruyne (31) is expected to lead Belgium's midfield in the upcoming Soccer World Cup, with Thibaut Courtois' absence potentially opening up a spot for him.
- In Courtois' absence and with Koen Casteels unfamiliar with the senior team setup, some fans are advocating for the inclusion of Domenico Tedesco's Soccer protégé, 23-year-old Ethan Ampadu, in the national team's goalkeeping rotation for the Soccer World Cup.
- In a recent interview, Rudi Garcia expressed his confidence in Belgium's depth in goalkeeping, stating that Courtois' potential absence is unfortunate but presents an opportunity for another keeper to shine in the Belgian national team at the Soccer World Cup.
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