Thibaut Courtois to Miss Euro 2024 Despite Recovery from Injury, Belgium Faces Ukraine in Group Stage

Belgium's national football team faces a significant challenge as Thibaut Courtois, their premier goalkeeper, has been ruled out of the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament. Despite his recovery from a season-affecting injury, Domenico Tedesco, Belgium's head coach, confirmed that Courtois will not be participating. This marks the first time in over a decade that Courtois will miss a European Championship, having been a key player for Belgium in the 2016 and 2020 tournaments.

The 31-year-old Real Madrid star has not played this season due to his injury, with Ukrainian Andriy Lunin stepping up in his absence at the Spanish club. Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has indicated that he expects Courtois to rejoin the team's main squad by early May. However, Tedesco has made it clear that the national team's goalkeeper situation will not be reassessed upon Courtois's return.

"With regard to this matter, everything has been said. We are focusing on players who are in good form," Tedesco told BBC Sport. This decision underscores the coach's strategy of relying on players who are currently active and performing well.

In Courtois's absence, the Belgian squad has seen Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest and Koen Casteels of Wolfsburg share responsibilities in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, with both goalkeepers playing three matches each. Thomas Kaminski of Luton Town also made an appearance, playing the last eight minutes of a friendly match against Ireland, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Sels, in particular, has been active in the starting lineup for Belgium's matches this year, participating in friendlies against Ireland and England. In the latter match, he conceded two goals, leading to a 2-2 draw. The situation poses a question of stability and performance for Belgium as they head into a challenging group stage at Euro 2024, where they will face Ukraine.

Belgium and Ukraine are set to meet in their third match of the group stage on June 26th, marking their first official encounter at this level. As Belgium navigates this tournament without one of their most experienced and influential players, all eyes will be on how Tedesco manages his team and whether the substitute goalkeepers can rise to the occasion in Courtois's absence.