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.

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. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)


3 photos
0
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

BRUSSELS — Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has returned to Belgium's squad 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. Koen Casteels 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.

Photos

Most recent Soccer stories

Related topics

SoccerNational Sports
The Associated Press
    KSL.com Beyond Series