Courtois Omitted From Belgium Euro 2024 Squad As Witsel Returns

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been left out of Belgium's 25-man squad for Euro 2024. Courtois, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in August, recently returned to action against Cadiz. Despite his recovery, he is expected to start for Real Madrid in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Courtois' exclusion from the national team follows a public dispute with Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco last June. The conflict arose when Courtois walked out on the squad after not being named captain following Eden Hazard's retirement. This incident made his participation in this year's tournament in Germany unlikely.

In Courtois' absence, Koen Casteels, Thomas Kaminski, and Matz Sels have been selected as the goalkeepers for Belgium's Euro 2024 campaign. The squad also sees the return of Axel Witsel, who had announced his international retirement last May but has since reversed that decision.

Belgium will kick off their Group E matches against Slovakia in Frankfurt on June 17. They will then face Romania on June 22 and Ukraine on June 26. The full 25-man squad includes players from various top clubs across Europe.

The squad includes notable names such as Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City, Romelu Lukaku from Roma, and Leandro Trossard from Arsenal. Yannick Carrasco, now with Al Shabab, also makes the list alongside other prominent players like Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku.

The Belgian Red Devils are aiming for a strong performance in Euro 2024 under Tedesco's guidance. With a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, the team hopes to make a significant impact in the tournament.