The Belgian coach, Domenico Tedesco, called a group of 25 players for Euro 2024 (June 14 – July 14, Germany), but the valuable goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is not among the future opponents of the Romanian team.
Romelu Lukaku, the number 1 striker in the Belgian team. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
He surprises Axel Witsel's call, but Tedesco visited the 35-year-old Atletico Madrid defender to convince him to return to the “red devils” team. Witsel's last selection of the 130 he collected for the Belgian national team dates from the end of 2022, from the World Cup in Qatar, in which Belgium was eliminated after the group stage.
Courtois has not been called up to the first national team since June last year, when he was upset that Tedesco did not make him captain after the withdrawal of Eden Hazard. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was criticized by his teammates and later expressed regret for his actions, but his relationship with Tedesco did not improve.
Shortly after the clash, Courtois suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out for most of the season, returning to the Real Madrid squad earlier this month and now in the squad for the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, which will take place on Saturday at Wembley.
''Courtois was very clear and very honest in his messages. The last information I received is that he is not ready for the European Championship. He knows his body better'', Tedesco said, on Tuesday, in a press conference.
''I've been thinking about Axel for a long time, since the preliminaries. It's about quality, and Witsel offers a lot of quality. He is a key player at Atletico Madrid. I met him, I wanted to see him, to look into his eyes. We need him, he has experience and can help the young players. Experience is important in his position. We are playing in the European Championship and it is not a little“, said the Italian-German technician.
Defender Maxim De Cuyper (FC Bruges) is the only player without a selection in the squad announced by Tedesco.
''I've been following Maxim De Cuyper for quite some time but haven't had the chance to pick him yet, but he deserves to be part of the squad“, confessed Tedesco, who summoned only 25 players, although the maximum limit set by UEFA is 26.
Veteran defender Jan Vertonghen (37 years old), who holds the national record for caps, with 154, as well as the best scorer in the history of the Belgian national team, Romelu Lukaku, who scored 83 goals in 114 caps, are part of the team.
Romania and Belgium will face each other at Euro 2024 on June 22, in Cologne. Belgium will debut against Slovakia on June 17 (in Frankfurt), its last group match being against Ukraine on June 26 (in Stuttgart).
Belgium Lottery:
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Kaminski (Luton Town), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest);
Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Maxim De Cuyper (FC Bruges), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Arthur Theate (Stade Rennais), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid);
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab/Saudi Arabia), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Orel Mangala (Olympique Lyonnais), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arthur Vermeeren (Atletico Madrid), Aster Vranckx (VfL Wolfsburg );
Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (Roma), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).
