Belgium Euro 2024 squad: De Bruyne leads a list without Courtois

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Tedesco has left Thibaut Courtouis out of the European Championship. AFP

Domenico Tedesco has left Thibaut Courtouis out of the European Championship, while bringing back Axel Witsel in a Belgium squad led by Kevin de Bruyne.

Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has called up Atletico Madrid's Axel Witsel, who announced his retirement from the national team, but not Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has had a problem with the coach for the past year.

"There is no doubt that he is a player of high quality," the Italian-German coach told a news conference in Tubize, south of Brussels, on Wednesday as he announced a 25-man squad that also includes Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (Roma) and Jeremy Doku (Manchester City). Also on the list are ex-Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco, now playing for Saudi club Al-Shabab, and the 'Colchoneros' midfielder Arthur Vermeeren.

Interest was also generated by the remote possibility of a return of Courtois, who a year ago got angry with the new coach for what he saw as a slight to his hierarchy, left the training camp and since then the tension has not abated, while the goalkeeper has picked up two injuries that have prevented him from playing most of the season.

"He was honest, he was clear. He knows his body (...). The latest information we have is that he is not ready for the European Championship," said the coach.