Kansas city: Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has shown unwavering support for his teammate Cody Gakpo following the tragic loss of the striker's unborn son. Van Dijk emphasized that 'football is secondary' as the Dutch team gears up for their World Cup last-16 match against Morocco.
According to Ghana Web, Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, faced the heartbreaking loss over the weekend. In light of this, the Liverpool forward has been granted time off from the squad to be with his family, who are situated near the Netherlands' World Cup base in Kansas City.
In a pre-match address, Van Dijk shared that the team has united to support Gakpo during this challenging time. He stated, 'The most important thing is to ask: 'What do you need?' It's awful news, and it shows that football is secondary. There are more important things in life. It's very sad, but Cody deals with it.' Van Dijk expressed admiration for Gakpo's maturity and the dignified manner in which he and his family are handling their loss.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman also commended Gakpo's resilience, noting the freedom given to the striker to be with his family. 'We have done what was within our power in terms of support, as players and as staff,' Koeman remarked. He highlighted Gakpo's determination, observing that despite the circumstances, Gakpo did not express a desire to leave the team indefinitely.
Despite the personal adversity, Gakpo is anticipated to participate in the upcoming match against Morocco. However, he has not publicly addressed the situation since the announcement. The news of Gakpo's loss has elicited widespread support from teammates, clubs, and fans globally, following a heartfelt social media post by Gakpo and Van der Bij announcing their tragic loss.