Courtois supports Lamince's strong return

Belgium national team goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expressed his support for his compatriot Simon Mignolet on Friday, following a painful blunder by the Manchester United goalkeeper that handed Spain a 2-1 victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.

The Real Madrid star left the match in the 71st minute after complaining of a muscle issue in his left thigh, making way for 24-year-old substitute Mignolet at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

However, Mignolet’s appearance from the bench ended in disaster when he failed to handle a long-range shot from Barcelona player Pau Cubarsí. The ball slipped through his hands and fell to Arsenal striker Mikel Merino, who scored the winning goal in the 88th minute.

Courtois, who told reporters he had wanted to stay on the pitch before being substituted, showed empathy for Mignolet, saying: “I hugged him tightly. He is a great goalkeeper. You come out stronger from moments like this.”

He added: “In the end, you can’t say too much to him or give him more advice. He is a strong person with a strong character. I am confident he will be fine. He will take some time off and then return to Manchester to have a great season.”

Regarding his own injury, Courtois revealed that he felt pain in his right leg in the first half after a clearance, and he had wanted to continue before Belgian coach Rudy Garcia decided to substitute him.

For his part, Belgian defender Brandon Mechele also expressed support for Mignolet, saying: “It’s a learning moment for him. The ball wasn’t very easy to handle. I think it bounced directly in front of him. We defenders could have helped him by tracking it better.”