Belgium crashed out of the World Cup on Friday night, losing 2-1 to Spain after a rare mistake from Senne Lammens.
Senne Lammens made a mistake for Belgium.(Image: 2024 Soccrates Images B.V.)
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Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois has backed Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens to bounce back after making a mistake in Belgium's defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Spain were drawing 1-1 with Belgium when Lammens replaced Courtois in the 71st minute. Courtois had a muscular problem, and so the United goalkeeper was given his first appearance at the tournament from the bench.
However, disaster struck with two minutes remaining when Lammens fumbled a long-range strike from Pau Cubarsi, which provided an opportunity for Mikel Merino to score a late winner for Spain.
A disappointed Lammens was consoled by his teammates after the final whistle. The 24-year-old will now have a post-World Cup break before returning to Carrington to report for pre-season.
Lammens was excellent during his debut season at United, and Courtois backed him to bounce back from his World Cup mistake. "I gave him a big hug. He's a great goalkeeper," he told reporters.
"You only get stronger from this. Eventually you cannot say much more to him or give him much more advice. He is a strong guy, strong personality. I'm sure he'll be fine. You know, he will have some holidays and then regroup in Manchester and have a great season."
Courtois wanted to stay on the pitch, but Belgium manager Rudi Garcia insisted on his substitution. "Obviously, I wanted to continue, but the coach wanted someone 100%," Courtois said.
"I wanted to try to play maybe five or 10 minutes because I was feeling good. I was making saves, and I was not disturbed to make those saves.
"So that's a decision of the coach, and that's not a problem. Obviously you're not happy when you have to leave a quarter-final of a World Cup. But yeah, sometimes it is what it is. You can't change it."
Belgium defender Brandon Mechele also reacted to Lammens' mistake, saying: "It's a learning moment for him. It was not the most easy ball. I think it bounces just in front of him.
"And we as defenders could have helped him by following up maybe more. So he he needs to learn from this, and we as a group we have to be there for each other and help each other."
United signed Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18.2million last summer. United considered a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, but they were convinced Lammens was the right choice. Lammens had to wait until October to make his United debut, but started every game after that.