Thibaut Courtois was overcome with emotion after he was forced off the pitch during Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final clash with Spain due to injury. The Real Madrid goalkeeper had been a sturdy presence between the sticks for Belgium, keeping the score level at 1-1 despite a flurry of Spanish chances in the second-half. But in the 67th minute, Courtois appeared to suffer an injury in his left thigh, going down to the turf and prompting referee Michael Oliver to bring up the second-half hydration break. He later received treatment from his side’s physios during the stoppage on the pitch. Courtois appeared to be fine to continue when play resumed, but just moments after the restart, the 34-year-old gestured to his bench that he needed to be swapped out. The shot-stopper was quickly replaced by Manchester United star Senne Lammens, but as Courtois came off, the degree to which he was hurt became clear as he took his place on the bench in floods of tears. Thibaut Courtois was beside himself after he was forced off due to injury in Belgium’s quarter-final clash with Spain The Real Madrid goalkeeper felt something in his left thigh and received treatment in the second-half His replacement Senne Lammens was heartbreakingly at fault for Mikel Merino’s goal The Manchester United star cut a miserable figure after conceding at the worst possible timeCourtois was immediately supported by his team-mates and members of Belgium’s set-up. But the veteran star was forced to content himself with a view from the sidelines as Lammens was tested again and again by Spain’s most potent attacking force, Lamine Yamal. With the score tied at 1-1 deep in the second-half, Courtois’ mind may well have been on the possibility of extra-time and penalties to come. But in the 87th minute, Lammens conceded in heartbreaking fashion as he spilled an initial stop in the six-yard box – leaving Mikel Merino to bury the shot into the back of the net to break the deadlock. ‘You feel for the fellow,’ Guy Mowbray said on BBC commentary, before adding: ‘The question he will never escape, and that we will never have an answer to is, “what would Courtois have done?”‘