Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has asked for "privacy and space" following the announcement by his partner Noa van der Bij that they had lost their unborn son. Van der Bij shared the devastating news on Instagram, posting a picture of the pair holding hands over a blanket and knitted hat. "With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy," she wrote. "Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son."
Emotional Posts and Support
In her post, Van der Bij also shared a photo of a candle and cross, with a touching message about visiting the church playground with their son Samuel. There, they encountered another child named Elijah, which she saw as a comforting sign from God. "There could have been a more beautiful sign from God. He reminded us that our little boy is never far away."
Gakpo, who is currently on World Cup duty, also posted on social media, expressing the difficulty of the situation for his family. "This is an incredibly difficult time for our family. We kindly ask for our privacy and space. Thank you for your understanding."
Continuing World Cup Commitment
Despite the personal tragedy, Gakpo has decided to remain with the Netherlands team at their World Cup camp in Kansas City. The Dutch Football Association issued a statement supporting the family's decision. "We are supporting the family wherever we can," it said. "After discussing the situation with his partner, Cody has decided to remain with the team. We respect their privacy and will therefore not comment further on the situation."
The Netherlands, who topped their World Cup group, are set to face Morocco in the last 32 in Mexico on Monday. Gakpo, 27, has started all three of the Netherlands' games in the United States, scoring twice.
