The question has never been more compelling than it is now. Now that Thibaut Courtois will be sidelined for a full season at worst, the Red Devils have to look for a new first goalkeeper. Who is eligible? We look at five options.
Maarten Vandevoordt (21 years old, 0 caps)
Will Domenico Tedesco also dare to gamble on youth?
With Maarten Vandevoordt, Belgium naturally has a particularly talented goalkeeper in the waiting room of the promises. The Genk keeper was one of the few bright spots at the most recent European Championship – with the national coach in the stands.
Simon Mignolet (35 years old, 35 caps)
What would go on in Simon Mignolet’s head?
The Club Brugge goalkeeper decided in March to retire as a Red Devil. “If there are a lot of injuries or problems, they can always call me. Then we can look at the situation,” he added.
Only the vacancy for first keeper is now open. Couldn’t a starting place at a European Championship tempt Mignolet to come out of his “retirement”? He had to watch from the bench in the previous five major tournaments.
Mignolet would be a choice of experience, not necessarily one for the future.
Matz Sels (31 years old, 3 caps)
Courtois’ replacement against Estonia, but will that also be the case in the coming months?
Matz Sels will soon start his sixth season at Strasbourg and is considered one of the most reliable goalkeepers in France. The former goalkeeper of KAA Gent and Anderlecht was even voted the best goalkeeper of the competition in 2022.
Sels already scored points against Estonia by immediately keeping a clean sheet, but Casteels was injured at the time.
Koen Casteels (31 years old, 5 caps)
In the youth they were invariably mentioned in the same breath: Thibaut Courtois and Koen Casteels.
The latter eventually made a slightly slower career than his peer, but eventually also reached the absolute top. Casteels is now a monument in the Bundesliga, with 258 matches not even a single Belgian is doing better.
Will soon start his ninth season at Wolfsburg and currently has five caps. In the exhibition game against Germany – the second match under Tedesco – Casteels did an excellent job.
Thomas Kaminski (30 years old, 0 caps)
A Premier League goalkeeper should not be overlooked.
Thomas Kaminski redeemed his excellent performances at Blackburn last week with a transfer to promoted Luton Town. There he normally becomes a titular who will have to do a lot of work – an ideal opportunity to distinguish himself.
Kaminski was part of the selection of the Red Devils for the first time in 2013, but has not played a minute so far.
2023-08-10 13:14:35
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