Courtois takes break from Belgium national team, coach defends substitutions

Thibaut Courtois has announced he will be taking a break from the Belgian national team, clarifying that this is a temporary pause rather than a retirement. The Real Madrid goalkeeper stated his intention to rest during the upcoming Nations League matches.

Courtois emphasized that he is not permanently stepping down from international duty but is opting for a period of rest. His decision comes after the Belgian team's performance, with coach Rudi Garcia having previously substituted the goalkeeper.

Garcia defended his decision regarding player substitutions, asserting that he prioritizes fielding only players who are in 100% condition. He also stood by his choice to replace Senne Lammens, whom he believes made a mistake due to a momentary lapse in concentration.

The coach indicated that he will make decisions about his own future in the coming weeks. Despite his disappointment with the team's elimination, Garcia expressed overall satisfaction with their World Cup performance. He stated that the remainder of the tournament does not particularly interest him.

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Courtois a jövőjéről kapcsolatban elárulta, hogy a belga válogatott nélküle folytatja ősszel. A nemzeti csapatot illetően ugyanis a Nemzetek Ligája-mérkőzéseken pihenni szeretne, de hangsúlyozta, egyelőre csak szünetet tart, még nem mondja le a válogatottságot.