Thibaut Courtois has called out media ‘lies’ over a reported bust-up in the Belgium camp – and threatened to end the national career of the person who leaked the information.
L’Equipe put out claims that Kevin De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen and captain Eden Hazard clashed in the dressing room after Belgium’s defeat to Morocco, as previously reported by Sportsmail.
But the 30-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper has denied the claims of a major falling out among the Red Devils, despite some understandable anger at the shock loss. He issued a warning to whoever it was that was spreading the stories in the first place.
According to Walfoot, Courtois said: ‘We said things to each other, and sometimes it feels good. I don’t think we missed it, but it’s one thing to talk to each other at the table or individually or to talk in a group, to solve everything together.
‘The problem, it’s that what’s said in the press isn’t always the truth. Whoever leaked this? We don’t need to know that. If it gets out, it’s his last day in the national team.’
The goalkeeper added: ‘There are no problems in the team, it’s just an external attempt to create problems internally. Of course, after a defeat, nobody is happy, but it brings us even closer because we know that we will have to give everything on the pitch on Thursday.’
In Belgium’s final group stage match, Roberto Martinez’s side face beaten 2018 finalists Croatia, knowing that they need a result from the match, or face being knocked out at the first stage.
Morocco are currently ahead of them in the group, and will progress with a win against Canada, who have already been eliminated. Martinez’s side would overtake Croatia with a victory, whilst a draw would leave them relying on the north African side losing to their CONCACAF counterparts.
Belgium’s key players Hazard, De Bruyne and Vertonghen were all involved in the reported bust-up after Morocco’s 2-0 win, and Romelu Lukaku had to step in to break up the angered trio at the Al Thumama stadium.
The issue appears to have stemmed from comments made by Manchester City’s star man De Bruyne, where he said Belgium were ‘too old’ to win the World Cup now, having made it to the semi-finals in Russia four years ago.
Sportsmail also revealed that the wife of fellow Red Devils squad member Dries Mertens said there was a ‘really awkward’ team barbecue after the falling out, as Belgium prepare for their vital Croatia match, which will happen at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan.
Belgium finished third in 2018, and made the quarter-finals in 2014. Their last elimination at the World Cup group stages was back in 1998, when they drew their three matches against Holland, Mexico and South Korea.