Source: USA TODAY Sports/Vincent Carchietta
[Saba Sports News] Earlier, Thibaut Courtois posted on social media expressing that his conflict with Belgium national team coach Domenico Tedesco is irreconcilable and stated that he will not return to the national team under Tedesco’s management. The match against Austria in June 2023 was Courtois’s 100th appearance for the national team, and he hoped to wear the captain’s armband; however, coach Tedesco handed it to Romelu Lukaku instead. This led to a conflict between Courtois and Tedesco, resulting in Courtois leaving the national team. After the match, Tedesco made this matter public, and Courtois responded via social media. In response, the Belgium national team issued a statement: The Belgian Football Association regrets but accepts Courtois’s decision not to play for the national team under the current coach. After the European Championship, we asked Courtois about his future plans with the national team. Those plans are now clear, and we respect his decision. We thank Courtois for his wonderful time with the Belgium national team and wish him good luck in the future.