Belgium kick off their World Cup campaign on Monday
Drawn in Group G – the same as England – The Red Devils play their first game of the tournament against Panama in Sochi, hours before Gareth Southgate’s team take on Tunisia in Volgograd.
Ahead of the game, Chelsea sent a tweet to Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi, wishing the pair luck for the game. At a glance, nothing wrong here, you might think… until you realise Hazard and Batshuayi aren’t the only Belgium internationals on the payroll at Stamford Bridge.
As was swiftly pointed out in the replies, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is still very much Belgian, and expected to start between the sticks for Roberto Martinez’s men against Panama.
Clearly, this was merely an oversight from whoever was tasked with running the club’s social media channels on Monday morning. To some, however, it was a sign that Courtois’ days were numbered at the London club.
The goalkeeper has been linked with a move away from Chelsea in recent months, especially with the team missing out on qualification for next season’s Champions League. Failure to mention him in this tweet was seen by some as another sign he was set to depart.
I guess Courtois either doesn’t exist or is leaving then, eh guys? @ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/z5q3jTqlve
— ' DMF🇵🇹 (@DMFv2) June 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/CharlieMarie129/status/1008644146901536768
Okay bye bye Courtois then 😂😂😂😂
— CFCmaxx (@maxisarp1) June 18, 2018
The tweet was later deleted by Chelsea, who followed it with another one. This time, they remembered to include Courtois.
Matchday for @HazardEden10, @MBatshuayi and @ThibautCourtois ! 🙌#BEL v #PAN
4pm (UK), Fisht Olympic StadiumGood luck, lads! #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/MZDbzq2EIR
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 18, 2018
Must be staying put after all then, eh?
Belgium have been backed by many to be amongst the favourites to win the tournament in Belgium. As well as the likes of Courtois, Batshuayi and Hazard, their squad contains established Premier League stars such as Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku.
After facing Panama, they will take on Tunisia in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium next Saturday, closing the group with a game against England in Kaliningrad the following Thursday.
