Thibaut Courtois
Real MadridGK
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May 11, 1992 (34)
Left
6'7"
212 lb
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Three saves against Iran
Courtois made three saves and allowed zero goals in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Iran.
Analysis: Courtois made three crucial saves in Sunday's goalless draw with Iran, first getting down sharply to his right to deny Hossein Kanani's low shot after a long throw in the first half, then making his most important contribution in the second half when he repelled Mehdi Taremi's powerful volley from another long throw that threatened to give Iran the lead in a match Belgium were already struggling to win. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was let down by Nathan Ngoy's red card in the final quarter of the match, which stretched his backline and handed Iran the territorial momentum his three saves had kept at bay, finishing with a clean sheet that felt more fortunate than dominant against a resolute Iranian attacking threat. With Belgium facing New Zealand in a must-win group finale, Courtois's command of his area and leadership from the back will be essential to providing the defensive foundation his team's attacking talent will need to finally deliver a winning performance.
Two saves against Egypt
Courtois recorded two saves and allowed one goal in Monday's 1-1 draw versus Egypt.
Analysis: Courtois made two saves in Monday's 1-1 draw with Egypt but was beaten by Emam Ashour's brilliant 20-yard strike in the first half, a long-range effort that flew past him and gave him very little chance of a save regardless of his positioning. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was otherwise alert and commanded his area confidently throughout the match, making one important stop in the second half to deny an Egyptian counter-attack and keeping his side in the match until Romelu Lukaku's introduction proved decisive. His shot-stopping quality and leadership between the posts remain essential to Belgium's World Cup ambitions, and a cleaner defensive display in front of him against Iran will allow him to contribute to the winning result his side desperately need.
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