**Courtois Welcomes Van Bommel’s Appointment as Belgium Coach**
Belgium's national football team has a new head coach, Mark van Bommel, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has expressed his support for the appointment. Courtois, who plays for Real Madrid, indicated that he looks forward to discussing his future with the national team under Van Bommel's leadership.
Van Bommel's appointment comes shortly after Belgium's disappointing quarter-final exit from the World Cup, where they were eliminated by Spain. This defeat led to the departure of Rudi Garcia, the previous coach, as the Belgian Football Federation and Garcia mutually agreed not to renew his contract.
Courtois shared his thoughts on Van Bommel's hiring during a sponsorship event, noting that the former Dutch international had been a candidate for the role for some time. "It wasn’t really a surprise because his name had been circulating for quite a while," Courtois said. He praised Van Bommel's coaching abilities, highlighting his successful tenure at Antwerp, where he earned a reputation as a top coach. "A lot of the players speak very positively about him, so I’m looking forward to getting to know him," Courtois added.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper emphasized the importance of Van Bommel's experience as a former player at the highest level of competition. "That top-level experience is definitely a positive and it naturally earns a lot of respect from the players," he stated.
However, Courtois's own future with the national team remains uncertain. Following the World Cup, he expressed a desire to continue representing Belgium but indicated a preference to skip the upcoming Nations League campaign for rest. "After the World Cup, I definitely still want to continue, but it will depend on the conversation I have with him," Courtois explained. "I’d like to have some rest during the Nations League, and we’ll have to try to reach an agreement on that. After that, I’ll decide whether I want to continue or not."
Reflecting on Belgium's World Cup performance, Courtois recalled his injury during the quarter-final match against Spain, which impacted the team's chances. He was replaced by Senne Lammens, who made a critical error that contributed to Belgium's defeat. Courtois expressed regret over not being able to continue in the match, stating, "I just felt that I couldn’t take goal kicks anymore. A defender could have taken them instead. During open play, I could still have made sideways passes." Despite his feelings, he respected the decision made by Garcia, who had a challenging tournament marked by criticism for his tactical choices.
Courtois emphasized that there was no animosity between him and Garcia, saying, "Of course, I was disappointed because it was against Spain and we were in a good rhythm. But the team is more important than I am. The decision was made, and there was never any bad blood. I never wanted to speak badly about him."
As Belgium prepares for a new chapter under Van Bommel, the focus will be on rebuilding and improving upon their recent performances. Courtois's potential continuation with the national team will be clarified in the coming discussions with the new coach, marking a pivotal moment for both the player and the team as they look ahead to future competitions.