Match Overview
During his return to the Belgium squad on Thursday, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois experienced defeat. Belgium was outplayed by Ukraine, ending the game with a score of 3-1. This challenging match took place in the first leg of their Nations League play-off.
Courtois’s Return
Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid star, last represented his national team in 2023. His hiatus followed a dispute with the previous coach, Domenico Tedesco. Now under France’s Rudi Garcia, Courtois rejoined the team but could not thwart Ukraine’s decisive play. Ukraine took a substantial lead before the upcoming second leg in Genk.
Scoring Details
Belgium initially took the lead with Romelu Lukaku scoring at the 40-minute mark. However, Ukraine responded strongly in the second half. Oleksiy Gutsulyak, Vladyslav Vanat, and Ilya Zabarnyi each netted a goal within 12 minutes after halftime, sealing a strong victory for coach Sergiy Rebrov’s squad.
Lukaku’s Comments
Post-match, Lukaku expressed concerns with RTBF, a Belgian broadcaster. “We had more desire but were too wasteful for the third goal, and our confidence dropped,” he stated. Despite the setback, Lukaku remains hopeful. “We can change the situation next week,” he added, citing the need for mental toughness within the team.
Challenges Beyond the Pitch
The match was staged in Murcia, Spain, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This displacement adds another layer of adversity for the Ukrainian team.
Outlook for Belgium
With many key players from the squad that topped global rankings between 2018 and 2021 now retired, including Eden Hazard, Belgium faces a transition period. This loss leaves Belgium at risk of relegation to League B of the Nations League unless they can overturn the deficit in the upcoming fixtures.
