Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has publicly refuted coach Domenico Tedesco's claims regarding his departure from the national team's training camp. Tedesco alleged Courtois left because he was upset over the captaincy decision, hinting at a fabricated injury. Courtois, however, insists his absence was due to a genuine knee issue, a decision made in consultation with both Real Madrid and Belgian medical staff.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper expressed disappointment with Tedesco's public airing of their private conversation. He clarified that his discussion with the coach was about the captaincy decision-making process, aiming to prevent past issues and prioritize the team's overall benefit. Courtois denied demanding the captaincy, stating he merely wanted a clear and consistent approach. He also emphasized his conversation with teammate Romelu Lukaku was to clarify the situation and avoid misunderstandings.

Tedesco had previously announced Courtois would captain the team against Estonia, following Lukaku's captaincy in their 1-1 draw against Austria. Despite praising Courtois' performance in that match, Tedesco later claimed the goalkeeper's departure stemmed from his frustration over not being captain against Austria. Tedesco admitted to multiple attempts to dissuade Courtois, describing the decision as "tough" and "hard." He declined to comment on Courtois' potential return to the national team.

Belgium currently sits second in Group F, three points behind Austria, but with a game in hand before facing Estonia.