Ten Spaniards have already scored against Courtois — and the goalkeeper admits it will be a special game
Courtois has conceded 20 goals from players in the current Spanish squad. The goalkeeper admits: it will be a special game. See who has already scored against the Belgian giant.
Two metres tall, eleven seasons in Spanish football, and a résumé that intimidates any striker on the planet. Thibaut Courtois is, without question, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Yet Spain seems to have found the blueprint to beat him.
According to ge, ten players in La Roja's current squad have already beaten the Real Madrid shot-stopper. In total, Courtois has conceded 20 goals from those same players throughout his career. Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres and Merino lead the list with three goals each. Lamine Yamal — 18 years old and a phenomenon still taking shape — has already scored twice in five Clásicos between Barça and Real Madrid over the past two seasons.
Pedri, Yéremy Pino and Fabián Ruiz also appear with two goals each. Gavi, Eric García and Borja Iglesias round out the group with one goal apiece.
Courtois himself acknowledged the weight of the fixture. "It will be a special game. The first time I will play in a major tournament against Spain," said the goalkeeper, who will be competing in a World Cup quarter-final for the third time in his career. Of the 26 players called up by Spain, only defender Cubarsí and left-back Grimaldo have never faced the keeper, as reported by ge.
The match takes place this Friday at 16:00 (Brasília time) in Los Angeles. Golmetria's model gives Spain a 29.45% chance of winning the title — the highest of any remaining team in the tournament.
On the other side of the bracket, France and Morocco face off this Thursday at 17:00 (Brasília time) in Boston. Les Bleus arrive on a five-match winning streak and are chasing a third world title, according to Trivela.
The semi-final looks inevitable on paper. But Courtois, who watched Belgium eliminate Brazil back in 2018, knows better than anyone: in football, paper doesn't play.