THIBAUT COURTOIS has been left out of Belgium Euro 2024 squad as fans claimed that their “golden generation turned bronze”.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper, 32, has been capped 102 times for his country.
ReutersThibaut Courtois will miss Euro 2024 for Belgium[/caption]
But he will not be adding to that total this summer in Germany as he was the big-name omission from the squad.
Courtois missed nearly the entire season due to a knee ligament injury.
He then needed another operation on his knee in March when he had a setback but he did return to play four games earlier this month for LaLiga champions Madrid.
Courtois threw his Belgium future into doubt after branding manager Domenico Tedesco a liar.
He and his international gaffer had been at loggerheads after he was snubbed of the captaincy for their matches against Austria and Estonia last June following Eden Hazard’s retirement.
Courtois staggeringly accused both the Belgian Football Federation and Tedesco of not appreciating him.
Then there was further controversy last month as Courtois Tedesco claimed that he had done everything in his power to ensure the crocked Courtois plays for the Red Devils again.
But the former Chelsea stopper publicly took umbrage to that claim by responding to a post with his comments with three Pinnochio emojis.
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Courtois made his Belgium debut back in 2011 aged 19 and has gone on to make a further 101 appearances for his country.
But he had confirmed way back in December that he would not be fit enough to represent his country in Germany.
Meanwhile, the likes of Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku are both in, along with ex-Premier League striker Romelu Lukaku and Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard.
But the Courtois news was not the only shock as Tedesco announced his 25-man squad.
Belgium also recalled Axel Witsel – that is despite the 35-year-old announcing his international retirement last year.
Tedesco personally visited the Atletico Madrid defender to try and persuade him to return, and his words have done the trick.
Witsel earned the last of his 130 caps at the World Cup in Qatar, where Belgium were eliminated in the group stage.
Meanwhile, the country’s most-capped player, Jan Vertonghen, has also been named at the age of 36.
However, another notable absentee is Fenerbahce’s Michy Batshuayi.
The former Chelsea and Crystal Palace forward, 30, has scored 27 goals in 55 caps.
Belgium have under-achieved and failed to claim any silverware for the past decade after having a squad many had dubbed as the ‘Golden Generation’.
And upon seeing the squad announcement for this upcoming tournament, one fan commented: “Golden generation turned bronze…”
Another said: “They are not seeing the quarter finals.”
“Belgium fell off,” said a third before a fourth added: “They’re just perfect for group stages exit. It’s just a matter of time.”
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