Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Belgium followers had been thrilled to see Thibaut Courtois return to the nationwide crew after a two-year absence for the upcoming UEFA Nations League video games. Nonetheless, the Actual Madrid star’s comeback has stirred inner controversy, finally prompting one in every of his teammates to resign from the squad.
Following a string of poor outcomes, the Belgian Soccer Affiliation determined to half methods with coach Domenico Tedesco, whose tenure was marked by tensions with Courtois — tensions that led the Actual Madrid goalkeeper to step away from worldwide responsibility. Now underneath new coach Rudi Garcia, Courtois made a shocking return to the squad, which precipitated frustration for fellow goalkeeper Koen Casteels, who brazenly criticized the state of affairs:
“It’s unusual that the soccer affiliation has turned 180 levels and is rolling out the crimson carpet and welcoming him again with open arms… I believe it’s a bit unusual that Courtois can resolve for himself whether or not he can come again. It’s not a lot in the direction of Thibaut, however primarily in the direction of the soccer affiliation,” Casteels mentioned on the Belgian podcast MidMid.
Annoyed with how the state of affairs unfolded, Casteels made the daring choice to retire from worldwide responsibility. “That doesn’t slot in with the requirements and values that I’ve about what a crew sport or a sporting group ought to have. As of at the moment, I’m not obtainable (for the nationwide crew),” he claimed.
Casteels had been Belgium’s beginning goalkeeper throughout Tedesco’s tenure, that includes prominently within the crew’s run to the Euro 2024 spherical of 16, the place they had been eradicated by France. He additionally performed as Belgium completed third in Group 2 of the UEFA Nations League. Now, as Belgium prepares to face Ukraine in a decisive promotion/relegation playoff, Courtois is predicted to reclaim the beginning spot left vacant by Casteels’ departure.
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Why did Courtois stop Belgium nationwide crew?
Domenico Tedesco was appointed as Belgium’s head coach in February 2023 following his tenure at RB Leipzig, with the objective of revitalizing a proficient squad that had underachieved in main tournaments. Courtois, considered one of many world’s greatest goalkeepers and a key determine at Actual Madrid, was anticipated to play a pivotal position in Tedesco’s plans.
Nonetheless, tensions shortly emerged between the 2. The breaking level got here when Tedesco selected Romelu Lukaku as Belgium’s captain as a substitute of Courtois. Feeling neglected, Courtois determined to withdraw from the nationwide crew after making simply two appearances underneath Tedesco.
