DOOR OPEN FOR REAL MADRID SUPERSTAR'S NATIONAL TEAM RETURN AFTER MANAGER FIRED

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The doors for Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ return to the Belgium national team have opened after they sacked manager Domenico Tedesco earlier today.

The axing comes just ten months after the 39-year-old had extended his contract to oversee the team until the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This could pave the way for Courtois to return to the Belgium setup, after he had decided not to make himself available for national team duty until Tedesco was in charge.

“I have decided not to return to the Belgian national team under this manager. In this matter, I accept my share of responsibility,” he had stated in August last year.

What happened between Courtois and Tedesco?

It all began in June 2023, when Thibaut Courtois opted to leave the Belgium national team camp, with Tedesco declaring in the press that the 32-year-old left as he was snubbed for captaincy, only for the goalkeeper to refute those claims.

The rift between the pair only widened from that point on, with the Belgian FA also standing in support of the manager.

It has been more than 18 months since Courtois last played for the Red Devils, although he did express a desire to return to the setup in the future if circumstances changed.

“Obviously I hope to play another game, to say goodbye properly or to play again. I would love to play in the World Cup, but we’ll see what happens. It’s not that easy,” he had said only a couple of weeks back.

Now with Tedesco no longer at the helm of affairs, it could open the doors for Courtois to make a comeback into the national team, especially given that Belgium could use a player of his quality amidst their ongoing struggles.

- Raghavendra Goudar

COACH NATIONALITIES | FIFA'S TOP 10 NATIONS

 

THIBAUT COURTOIS: I WON'T PLAY FOR BELGIUM UNDER CURRENT COACH

Courtois, en un entrenamiento con el Real Madrid. (Reuters/Juan Medina)

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said in a social media post Thursday that he will not be returning to the Belgium national team while current manager Domenico Tedesco remains in charge.

Courtois, who missed much of the last season after suffering two knee injuries, was left off Belgium's Euro 2024 squad despite starting for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

"Unfortunately, following the events with the coach and after much reflection, I have decided not to return to the Belgian national team under his management," Courtois, who has 102 caps for Belgium, wrote on Instagram.

"In this matter, I accept my share of responsibility. However, looking forward, my lack of confidence in him would not contribute to maintaining the necessary atmosphere of cordiality."

Courtois had a public falling-out with Tedesco in 2023 after leaving the Belgium squad ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier amid a dispute over not being selected to succeed Eden Hazard as captain.

Tedesco said Courtois abruptly left camp after he did not feel respected within the team, but Courtois denied Tedesco's claims and said he left the camp due to a knee problem.

"The Federation, with whom I have had several discussions, accepts my position and the reasons that led me to this painful but coherent decision," Courtois added. "I regret possibly disappointing some fans, but I am convinced that this is the best course of action for Belgium, as it closes a debate and allows the team to focus on pursuing its goals."

Belgium were eliminated by France in the round of 16 at Euro 2024, with Al Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels starting all four of their games.

- ESPN 

BELGIUM LOSS TEDESCO BRISTLES AT 'GOLDEN GENERATION' TAG

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 After more than 25 minutes of questions to Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne and coach Domenico Tedesco on Sunday, the dreaded words "Golden Generation" had not yet been heard.

And then it happened -- with the very last question, to Tedesco, on the eve of his team's opening European Championship game against Slovakia.

"It's a typical German question about the Golden Generation," quipped Tedesco, who is Italian-born though a German citizen. "I was expecting that one."

One day, Belgium coaches and players will not be pulled back to the gilded crop of prospects who seemed sure to one day win an international title, and possibly should have at Euro 2016.

It's been a label, and a millstone, for Belgium since the 2008 Beijing Olympics where an emerging squad included Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini and Jan Vertonghen.

De Bruyne and Eden Hazard were maturing in the team that reached the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals. The Red Devils were stunned at the same stage of Euro 2016 by Wales despite extra established stars Thibaut Courtois in goal and Romelu Lukaku in attack.

Marc Wilmots left as coach and was replaced by Roberto Martinez, who is now at Euro 2024 with Portugal.

There were eliminations as the world's top-ranked team by eventual champions: in the 2018 World Cup semifinals against France, and a Euro 2020 quarterfinal match to Italy.

Then another stunner, failing to advance from the 2022 World Cup group stage in Qatar, albeit because eventual semifinalists Croatia and Morocco did.

"Qatar is over now. It was a disappointment, yes, but it was 18 months ago," De Bruyne said Sunday ahead of the playmaker's third attempt to win a European title. "It is a new tournament, a new coach. The team has changed quite a lot."

Since the World Cup, veterans like Hazard, Dries Mertens and Toby Alderweireld have retired from the national team. Courtois fell out with Tedesco and is not in Germany.

De Bruyne is still here with Vertonghen (37), Lukaku (31) and Axel Witsel (35). Another Manchester City star, winger Jérémy Doku, is already at his third major tournament at 22 and much is expected from 21-year-old Johan Bakayoko on the right flank.

Belgium are still ranked No. 3 by FIFA.

"I wouldn't say our squad is third in the world right now but in a tournament it doesn't even matter," said De Bruyne, whose 33rd birthday falls between the round of 16 and the quarterfinals.

"There are a lot of young players in the team and they're really motivated," De Bruyne said, whose team is strongly favored in Group E that also includes Ukraine and Romania.

The 38-year-old Tedesco, leading Belgium at a tournament for the first time, acknowledged there was a squad overhaul.

"There is huge quality among the young prospects, who are already ready for this stage," Tedesco said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

- ESPN News Services