While Real Madrid are currently looking forward to the return of regular keeper Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian can safely plan for his summer vacation. National coach Domenico Tedesco is planning for the European Championship in Germany without the goalkeeper with whom he fell out a year ago
The situation between Thibaut Courtois and Domenico Tedesco escalated last June. During Belgium’s 1-1 draw against Austria, the now 31-year-old goalkeeper was initially annoyed that Romelu Lukaku and not he had been given the captain’s armband in place of the injured Kevin De Bruyne. He refused to travel to the subsequent match in Estonia, and the dispute escalated after mutual accusations.
At least things calmed down a little when Courtois suffered a serious injury at the start of the season. A cruciate ligament rupture slowed down the Real Madrid goalkeeper. But his recent return to the training pitch and soon between the posts for Madrid inevitably raised the question of Courtois’ prospects for Belgium’s European Championship squad.
Tedesco: “Focus on the lads who are fit “
Courtois himself had already speculated in December that he would not be taking part in the European Championships due to his injury, thus giving Tedesco “planning security. We are focusing on the guys who are fit”.
Most recently, the 38-year-old had put his faith in the departing Wolfsburg player Koen Casteels as number one, with Mats Sels from Nottingham Forrest and Maarten Vandevoordt from KRC Genk likely to complete the goalkeeper team at the European Championships.