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Cody Gakpo breaks down in tears following World Cup goal days after miscarriage heartbreak

Cody Gakpo was reduced to tears after scoring for Netherlands against Morocco

[Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands after scoring]

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Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands after scoring(Image: Getty Images)

Cody Gakpo was overcome with emotion after netting for the Netherlands against Morocco at the World Cup - just days after losing his unborn child.

The 27-year-old Liverpool player put the Dutch ahead in the 72nd minute, hammering the ball home from close range after Crysencio Summerville threaded it through to him. Gakpo instantly dropped to the turf, head pressed against the grass, visibly overwhelmed.

His Dutch teammates immediately surrounded him for support following an incredibly challenging 72 hours since the heartbreaking news emerged. Micky van de Ven tenderly kissed his head while Gakpo wept, before he pulled his shirt over his face as Virgil van Dijk held him close.

The former PSV player gestured skyward in memory of his unborn baby while returning to the halfway line. Moments later, he managed a smile as he celebrated alongside Summerville.

Gakpo and his girlfriend, Noa van der Bij, had been expecting their second son, announcing the pregnancy in May. Tragically, Van der Bij shared via two Instagram posts on Saturday that the couple had experienced a miscarriage, reports the Mirror.

The devastating announcement sparked an outpouring of sympathy for Gakpo and his family, yet the Liverpool player chose to stay with the Netherlands camp for their Round of 32 encounter with Morocco at Estadio Monterrey on Tuesday morning. In the lead-up to the Morocco fixture, Brian Brobbey, Gakpo's Dutch international colleague, expressed solidarity with his teammate.

[Cody Gakpo produced an emotional celebration after scoring for the Netherlands]

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Cody Gakpo produced an emotional celebration after scoring for the Netherlands(Image: Getty Images)

"Everyone naturally sympathises with him. We already knew it a few days earlier," Brobbey said in an interview with NOS. "We try to be there for him. If necessary, we are there. And if he needs space, we are there too..

"We are a close-knit group, both the players and the coaches try to be there for him. It is of course nice that he stays with us. He is a very important player."

Van Dijk echoed similar sentiments during his pre-match press conference, praising how Gakpo and his girlfriend have navigated the challenging circumstances.. "Being there for Cody is the most important thing," Van Dijk said on Sunday. "It's terrible. At such a moment it becomes clear again that football is a side issue.

"And that there are more important things in life. It's very sad. You never want to go through this. But as the national coach says and knowing Cody, he is very keen to continue for a round. He dealt with it very maturely.

"I have a lot of respect for how he, but also Noa and his family, have handled this."

Although it looked as though Gakpo's goal was going to send Netherlands through, Morocco levelled in the 91st minute with Fulham's Issa Diop heading home from inside the box to send the tie to extra-time. Morocco won 3-2 on penalties and will now face Canada in the round of 16.

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