Camavinga reassured by Thibaut Courtois' absence from Belgium squad

France and Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga said on Saturday that it is "good" for his team that Thibaut Courtois is not in goal for Belgium, their opponents in the last 16 of Euro 2024, because "he saves everything", and remarked that his side are "ready" for "a new competition" with the start of the play-offs.

His Real Madrid team-mate, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has not been called up by Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco amid his serious knee injury, from which he returned before the tournament, including the Champions League final, and their conflict since the coach chose Romelo Lukaku over him to captain with Kevin de Bruyne sidelined.

"It's good for us that he's not playing (for Belgium) because he's a great goalkeeper. He saves everything," the player explained at a press conference in the German city of Paderborn, where France are training for Germany 2024 as they await their last-16 clash with Belgium in Dusseldorf next Monday.

But Kevin De Bruyne will be in the starting lineup for the Red Devils. "I have no secret how to defend him. He's a great player, he moves all over the pitch. The most important thing is to be solid in defence," he said of the Belgium star. The French also spoke about Jeremy Doku. "He's explosive, it's difficult to defend him," he said of the winger. He has already faced both of them in the Champions League with Real Madrid, in the quarter-finals, when they knocked out Manchester City.

 

June 29, 2024