Belgium’s Thomas Meunier injury doubt for Euro 2024; not travelling with squad

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JUNE 5: Thomas Meunier of Belgium looks on during the International Friendly match between Belgium and Montenegro at King Baudouin Stadium on June 5, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
By Colin Millar
Jun 9, 2024

Belgium right-back Thomas Meunier is an injury doubt for this summer’s European Championship in Germany due to an injury.

The 32-year-old defender was substituted off in the 16th minute of Belgium’s three-goal friendly victory over Luxembourg on Saturday and was replaced by Maxim De Cuyper.

Meunier — who has scored eight goals in 66 caps for Belgium — joined Turkish club Trabzonspor from Borussia Dortmund in January and played 19 matches for his new club in the second half of the season.

Belgium confirmed on Sunday that Meunier would undergo further medical tests on his injury and would not be travelling with the squad to their tournament base in Germany on Wednesday.

23-year-old Club Brugge defender De Kuyper and Fulham’s Timothy Castagne are other options at right-back for Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco.

Meunier made his international debut in 2013 and has played in the last four major international tournaments for Belgium, including their run to the semi-final stage of World Cup 2018.

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Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad

Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thomas Kaminski (Luton Town), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest).

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Bruges), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht).

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Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arthur Vermeeren (Atletico Madrid), Aster Vranckx (Wolfsburg), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid).

Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV), Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (Roma, on loan from Chelsea), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).

(Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

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Colin Millar

Colin Millar is a Staff Writer for The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, Colin was European Football writer at Mirror Football. From Belfast, he is the author of The Frying Pan of Spain: Sevilla vs Real Betis, Spain’s Hottest Football Rivalry, and he can be found on Twitter/X: @Millar_Colin Follow Colin on Twitter @Millar_Colin