Cody Gakpo’s resolve tested as Oranje prepares for Morocco clash

Netherlands will meet Morocco in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday night, with the match kicking off at 03:00 Belgian time. Despite the recent loss of his unborn son, forward Cody Gakpo is set to start for Oranje, a decision confirmed by coach Ronald Koeman. Koeman said the staff had done everything possible to support Gakpo after the tragic news, and he praised the player's maturity in handling the situation. Speaking Sunday evening in Monterrey, Koeman noted that Gakpo was allowed to leave the hotel whenever he needed to be with his family. Gakpo and his girlfriend suffered the loss of their unborn son during the pregnancy. The couple shared the sad news with the squad in the days leading up to the knockout match.

Knockout stage: Brazil vs Japan, Germany vs Paraguay, and Netherlands vs Morocco.

Gakpo chose to remain with the group and will start in the lineup against Morocco on Monday. Koeman believes the personal tragedy will not significantly affect his performance, as Gakpo himself indicated. Captain Virgil van Dijk stressed that being there for Cody is the most important thing the players can do. He added that Gakpo is eager to help the Netherlands reach the next round, and the whole squad now focuses on that goal. The live blog also highlighted a "wake‑upcall" for the Red Devils, noted Mark van Bommel's support for Oranje, and mentioned the return of the salon‑remise. These items rounded out the coverage of the evening's events.