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Thibaut Courtois has refused to make the journey to Tallinn for Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier towards Estonia on Tuesday after he was denied the honour to face in because the workforce’s captain final week.
Within the absence of standard skipper Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku wore the captain’s armband for a 1-1 draw with Austria final Saturday.
Coach Domenico Tedesco stated the plan had been for his two vice-captains – Lukaku and Actual Madrid goalkeeper Courtois – to steer the facet in a single match every throughout the worldwide break.
“After the sport, Thibaut all of the sudden needed to speak to me and informed me he was going residence as a result of he was dissatisfied and felt insulted,” Tedesco informed a press convention on Monday.
Tedesco famous, “In my eyes, he’s the perfect goalkeeper on the planet. I recognize him as a goalkeeper and likewise as an individual.
“I’m stunned and shocked that he felt offended and dissatisfied.
“In March, we determined that Kevin can be captain and there can be two vice-captains – Lukaku and Courtois,” he added.
Courtois, in a press release, stated he was “stunned” to listen to Tedesco “give a partial and subjective view of a non-public dialog.”
In accordance with Courtois, “I requested him, not out of non-public curiosity, to elucidate and take selections to keep away from conditions we now have already skilled that harmed us.
“To be captain or not isn’t a whim or a random determination. It’s as much as him (Tedesco) to determine, and that’s what I attempted to make him perceive.”
Strasbourg ‘keeper Matz Sels will take Courtois’ place in objective for the Estonia recreation.
Belgian media reported that Courtois’ determination additionally got here as a shock to his teammates.
“It’s a tragic scenario,” stated veteran defender Jan Vertonghen.
“I would like Thibaut to be there, however the group course of is vital. That course of is now definitely disrupted, and an answer should be discovered.”
Belgium was affected by reported infighting throughout the World Cup final 12 months once they crashed out within the group stage, with De Bruyne saying throughout the event the workforce was “too outdated.”
The earlier captain Eden Hazard retired from worldwide soccer after the debacle in Qatar, and coach Roberto Martinez left.
Belgium has 4 factors from two video games in Euro qualifying, sitting second in Group F behind Austria.
AFP
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