Courtois back in Belgium squad after missing Euro 2024 because of fall-out with coach
Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois applauds fans at the end of the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Bernebeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Credit: AP/Manu Fernandez
BRUSSELS — Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returned to Belgium's squad on Friday as part of the first selection by recently hired coach Rudi Garcia.
Courtois left the team just before the 2024 European Championship in Germany after falling out with Belgium's then-coach, Domenico Tedesco.
In August, Courtois said he wouldn't be available for selection for Belgium under Tedesco's management.
Tedesco left the role in January and was replaced by Garcia.
Courtois was one of four goalkeepers picked by Garcia ahead of the upcoming Nations League playoff double-header against Ukraine.
Not among them was Koen Casteels, who was Belgium's starting ‘keeper at Euro 2024 but has made himself unavailable for the national team reportedly because of the circumstances around Courtois’ return to the fold.
It is Garcia's first stint in international management, having coached at several big clubs including Napoli, Marseille and Roma in his much-traveled career.
Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois celebrates the third goal of his team during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP/Bernat Armangue
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