Courtois substitution fury as Belgium's World Cup ends

Sommer signs for Club Brugge

Yann Sommer is coming to Belgium. Club Brugge have signed the 37-year-old Swiss goalkeeper after his Inter contract expired (1). He replaces Simon Mignolet, who retired after last season. Sommer spent two years at Inter, playing 71 matches, and arrives on a free transfer. Blauw-Zwart have their new number one.

Courtois substitution sparks fury after Spain exit

Your team are out. Spain knocked Belgium out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, and the fallout has turned ugly. The biggest flashpoint: Rudi Garcia substituted Thibaut Courtois during the match, a decision that has drawn fire from every corner. Former international Anthony Vanden Borre called it "a huge mistake" (6). Ex-goalkeeper Silvio Proto was also blunt: it was the wrong call. Courtois was reportedly furious walking off, and no explanation from Garcia has calmed the storm.

Garcia gone after World Cup, but who next?

Garcia's contract runs until the end of the World Cup. It will not be renewed. Belgian analysts are already naming replacements, but the federation's finances are tight: "There is no more money" (5). A Red Devils insider sent Garcia a candid message after the elimination: "Several players, important ones, you never convinced. That has been the case for some time" (2). Analyst Johan Boskamp offered a different take, saying Belgium's performance rescued football from "an even greater disgrace," pointing to the earlier USA controversy (3).

Twente tracking Anderlecht's Maamar

Ali Maamar has a suitor. FC Twente scouts have noted the 20-year-old right-back, who plays for Anderlecht and recently became a world champion with Morocco at U20 level (7). He broke into Anderlecht's first team this season. No bid yet, just a name in a notebook, but Twente are watching.

Senegal sack coach after Belgium defeat

Belgium beat Senegal in the round of 16, a result that ended Aliou Cissé's eight-year tenure as Senegal coach. He was fired immediately after the defeat (4). Your team's tournament run reshaped the jobs market on two continents.

Fan reactions

The mood among supporters is raw. Garcia's Courtois decision dominates every discussion, with many calling it indefensible and some framing the substitution as the moment the tournament was lost. The broader frustration is that Belgium's golden generation exits with the same old question: a manager who could not get the biggest calls right.