Thibaut Courtois to sit out Belgium’s Nations League campaign

[p]The 34-year-old had said ‌after the World Cup that ‌he may stop playing for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] ‌or seek a rest this season, skipping the Nations ‌League where Belgium are grouped ⁠with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]‌France[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/hlKvieGH/"]Italy[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]Turkey[/a] and play six ​matches over the next three months.[/p][p]He told reporters ​after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/inter-Iw7eKK25/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=foBRjez1"]2-1 win[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter Milan[/a] in the ⁠Champions ​League on Tuesday that new Belgium coach Mark van Bommel understands his decision.[/p][image alt="Courtois' performance vs Inter Milan" id="9aefacae-e2c2-4045-98eb-fc0522397410" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="49f2e6a3-1acc-4be9-a235-e5f8864f336d" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]"[b]I will remain ‌available for the European Championship qualifying campaign with the national team, and I understand that I will have to fight for my place just like the other goalkeepers[/b]," he told Belgian daily Het Laatste ‌Nieuws.[/p][p]“[b]Physically, I don't know if ​I can maintain the ‌same schedule for another four years[/b]."[/p][p]The first qualifiers for the 2028 European Championship are scheduled for March next ⁠year.[/p]