The Belgian goalkeeper had nearly singlehandedly stored his aspect afloat within the World Cup quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium with 4 saves. But in the beginning of the second half, he felt one thing in his left thigh. After a pair extra saves, Courtois felt ok to continue however as soon as once more felt that pull in his thigh muscle as quickly as he tried one other lengthy kick. In the 71st minute, Belgium supervisor Rudi Garcia subbed the Real Madrid goalkeeper out for Senne Lammens.
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“Obviously, I wanted to continue, but the coach wanted someone 100%,” Courtois stated. “So OK, that’s his decision. I wanted to try to play maybe 5-10 more minutes to see, because in goal I was feeling good. I was making the saves, and I was not disturbed to make those saves. And I was only disturbed to kick long. So that’s the decision of the coach, and that’s not a problem.”
Belgium remained deadlocked with Spain till the 88th minute, when Lammens could not maintain onto the ball after stopping an extended shot from Pau Cubarsí. The ball left Lammens’ arms as he fell to the bottom and bounced proper to Mikel Merino, who fired in the winning goal for La Roja for the second consecutive recreation.
Spain went on to win 2-1, eliminating Belgium. And Lammens had the doubtful distinction of being the primary goalkeeper to come on instead and make an error leading to a goal in a World Cup match since 1974.
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After the ultimate whistle, Courtois consoled his backup with an extended hug.
“Much more I cannot do at the moment,” Courtois stated. “I know for goalkeepers, it is a (bad) feeling, and he’s a great goalkeeper. And if we only get stronger from this, it’s not a problem.”
Despite the end result, Garcia says he has no regrets about his choice.
“That’s part of elite-level sport. It’s what I was saying earlier: you have to be focused and capable of performing in these big matches,” he stated via FIFA interpretation. “Since the start of the World Cup, I’ve made a point of not playing anyone who was carrying an injury; I needed players who were fully fit.”
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Courtois, who has battled a string of muscle accidents during the last 18 months, was no completely different. Garcia was happy with not simply his saves, but in addition his long-range distribution to Romelu Lukaku and Charles De Ketelaere that helped create scoring probabilities for the Red Devils.
“He is a great goalkeeper,” Garcia stated. “One of the best in the world. He proved that again tonight. So, for him to be at less than 100% during the match was a real blow.”
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Luka Modric #10 of Croatia and teammates react after the 1-2 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto.
(Mattia Ozbot, Getty Images)
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Luka Modric #10 of Croatia and teammates react after the 1-2 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto.
(Mattia Ozbot, Getty Images)
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Derrick Luckassen #23 of Ghana reacts after the 0-1 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana at Kansas City Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(David Ramos, Getty Images)
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Vozinha #1 and Kevin Pina #6 of Cabo Verde react after the 2-3 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Argentina and Cabo Verde, on July 3, 2026 in Miami.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic appears to be like dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eradicated from the World Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES through Reuters)
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Bosnia and Herzegovina‘s Kerim Alajbegovic appears to be like dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eradicated from the World Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES through Reuters)
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Pathe Ciss #6 of Senegal is consoled by Amadou Onana #24 of Belgium after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Seattle.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
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Players of England have fun the crew’s 2-1 victory whereas Fiston Mayele #19 of Congo DR exhibits dejection after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Cedric Bakambu #17 of Congo DR reacts after the crew’s 1-2 defeat within the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Megan Briggs, Getty Images)
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Sweden’s defender Gustaf Lagerbielke reacts after shedding the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between France and Sweden on the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 30, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP through Getty Images)
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Viktor Gyokeres #17 of Sweden and teammates applaud followers after the 0-3 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 30, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Buda Mendes, Getty Images)
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Amad Diallo #15 of Cote d’Ivoire reacts after the 1-2 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Cote d’Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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Patrick Berg #6 of Norway celebrates after the 2-1 win as Yahia Fofana #1 of Cote d’Ivoire reacts throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Cote d’Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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(From L) Netherlands’ defender #02 Lutsharel Geertruida, midfielder #26 Quinten Timber and midfielder #14 Tijjani Reijnders react after shedding within the shootout throughout the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco on the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026.
(CARL DE SOUZA, AFP through Getty Images)
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Germany’s ahead #07 Kai Havertz reacts after shedding the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay on the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP through Getty Images)
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Germany’s defender #05 Aleksandar Pavlovic and defender #18 Nathaniel Brown react after shedding the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay on the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP through Getty Images)
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Germany’s midfielder #20 Nadiem Amiri reacts after shedding the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay on the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP through Getty Images)
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A Germany fan reacts after the penalty shootout loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Kai Havertz #7 of Germany reacts after the penalty shootout loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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A Japan fan reacts after the 1-2 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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Daizen Maeda #11, Shuto Machino #6 and Yuto Nagatomo #5 of Japan react after the 1-2 loss throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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South Africa’s ahead #07 Oswin Appollis reacts after shedding the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between South Africa and Canada on the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026.
(ETIENNE LAURENT, AFP through Getty Images)
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Ronwen Williams #1 and Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa look dejected after the crew’s defeat and their aspect’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
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Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa appears to be like dejected after the crew’s defeat and his aspect’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Garcia additionally used the chance to spotlight the significance of staying wholesome, particularly at this stage in Courtois’ profession. At 34 years outdated, restoration is trickier than it used to be. It takes longer. The extra trainings he misses due to injury, the tougher it turns into to keep in prime type as soon as he is again on the pitch.
That may be detrimental, each to him and to the crew that is higher when he is on purpose.
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All that is left for Courtois now’s to take the time to heal and put together for his eighth season with Los Blancos.
“For me personally, also, obviously, you are not happy when you have to leave a quarterfinal for World Cup,” Courtois stated. “But yes, sometimes it’s what it is. You cannot change it. So, I will rest well now.”
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