Belgium Announces Euro 2024 Squad; Courtois Omitted

Belgium has unveiled its provisional 25-man squad for Euro 2024, with notable exclusions including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku headline the squad, while Courtois, who has recently returned from injury, has been left out.

The squad features several Premier League stars, such as Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans, and Everton’s Amadou Onana. Axel Witsel, who retired from international duty last year, has surprisingly earned a recall.

Despite being Belgium’s record goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku, currently on loan at Roma from Chelsea, will join the squad. However, Courtois, capped 102 times, has been omitted in favor of Wolfsburg’s Koen Casteels, Luton’s Thomas Kaminski, and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels.

Head coach Domenico Tedesco cited Courtois’ readiness as the reason for his exclusion, stating, “Courtois was very clear and honest…he is not ready for the European Championships.”

Belgium, placed in Group E alongside Romania, Ukraine, and Slovakia, will kick off their campaign against Slovakia in Frankfurt on 17 June.

The squad composition is as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thomas Kaminski (Luton)

Defenders:

Wout Faes (Leicester), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge)

Midfielders:

Aster Vranckx (Wolfsburg), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Arthur Vermeeren (Atletico Madrid), Amadou Onana (Everton)

Forwards:

Romelu Lukaku (Roma), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Lois Openda (Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab)