Koeman praises Gakpo’s resolve as Dutch face Morocco in World Cup

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said Cody Gakpo is ready to play despite the tragic loss of his unborn son, as the Dutch side prepare to face Morocco in the World Cup round of 16 in Monterrey at 03:00 Dutch time. Cody Gakpo and his partner Noa van der Bij announced on Saturday that their unborn son had died. The couple shared the news on Instagram and asked for privacy to process the loss. Their announcement was met with support from the entire Netherlands squad, including 53‑cap defender Virgil van Dijk. At the pre‑match press conference, Ronald Koeman described the news as “trieste nieuws” and said the federation had done everything it could to support Gakpo. He added that Gakpo was allowed the first days to leave the hotel and be with his family, noting that “ik vind dat hij daar erg goed mee om is gegaan”.

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Virgil van Dijk, who also plays with Gakpo at Liverpool, expressed his sympathy, calling the situation “vreselijk”. He said football becomes a side issue and praised Gakpo’s determination to help the team reach the next round. Koeman said Gakpo never hesitated to stay with the national team and never asked to leave for personal reasons. He highlighted Gakop’s maturity, stating that “Hij is klaar om te spelen en het weegt niet mee in zijn prestaties”.

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The Netherlands will face Morocco in the World Cup round of 16 in Monterrey, with the kickoff scheduled for 03:00 Dutch time on Tuesday. The match will be played the night of Monday into Tuesday, marking the Dutch side’s next challenge.