Courtois’ international future has hovered over Belgium for a while, and any new coach would understand the sensitivity. A goalkeeper of that stature changes the mood of a squad, but so does uncertainty. That is why Van Bommel’s reported approach feels significant. Rather than forcing the issue in public, he appears to want a private conversation first.
“Perhaps he has already revised his opinion. As soon as he is back in full training, we will fly there and talk,” Van Bommel is reported to have said. That is measured, and probably necessary. Belgium do not just need a yes or no; they need a clean line under a storyline that can otherwise dominate every squad announcement.
Van Bommel also seems keen to strip away the noise around his appointment. “Did I want to wait for the Dutch national team? No, not at all. I didn’t even think about that,” he is reported to have said. That matters because Belgium are entering a phase where authority and direction count as much as reputation.
This is no longer simply about a so-called golden generation. It is about building a side that can compete now while still evolving. Van Bommel’s early messaging appears less about grandstanding and more about control.
That makes Italy on 25 September an ideal first competitive test. A Nations League tie in Rome offers little time for easing in, and Belgium’s first camp under Van Bommel is likely to be judged as much on its clarity as its result.
The next storyline is obvious: Van Bommel’s first squad. If Courtois is involved, it will shape the headlines. If not, Belgium will still need to show they are moving forward when they face Italy.