Courtois' World Cup ends in tears after injury substitution
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Thibaut Courtois' World Cup ended in tears after he was substituted due to a thigh injury during Belgium's quarter-final match against Spain.
- Belgium conceded the decisive goal after Courtois' departure, leading to their 1-2 loss and elimination from the tournament.
- Courtois, playing for Real Madrid, expressed his distress over the injury and the team's exit.
Belgium's World Cup dreams were dashed, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' tournament ended in heartbreak with a thigh injury during their quarter-final clash against Spain. The Real Madrid star was forced off the pitch, visibly emotional, as Belgium suffered a 1-2 defeat, eliminating them from the competition.
The incident occurred during the match in Los Angeles, where Courtois' absence proved critical. After he was substituted due to the injury, Spain managed to score the game-winning goal, sealing Belgium's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Courtois, who had been a stalwart presence for Belgium, was seen in tears following the match, reflecting the emotional toll of his injury and the team's elimination. The exact timeline for his recovery remains unclear, but the injury marks a painful end to his World Cup campaign.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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