To see your child born, or live out a World Cup without interruption. Any player dreams of both. When they overlap, choices have to be made. Everyone has their own sensitivity. Jeremy Doku, for example, has decided that if his first child is born he will leave Belgium’s camp in the United States — with the agreement of the national team — to be with his wife in England for the birth.
“If you ask me what I want,” the Manchester City forward told Reuters, “my answer is that no one could ever miss a family moment like that. But I also know football involves many other considerations. I know my federation supports and understands us. We’ll see what happens.” The baby is due in a few weeks, and unless Belgium’s run under Rudi Garcia ends early — not an unlikely scenario, based on performances so far — Doku could find himself at a crossroads. He has already told his teammates.
A legitimate choice, one that across football and sport tends to be met with understanding and respect from most professionals. The only dissenting voice has become a case in itself: the French presenter France Pierron, in a post on L’Équipe’s Facebook page, wrote without much hesitation that “the World Cup is an incredible joy, there are hundreds of players who would do anything to be in Doku’s place, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. How can you leave for the birth of your child? A disgusting moment, in which the father is completely useless. Excuse my frankness.” It hardly went unnoticed. Apologies later from both the presenter and the newspaper.
Still, there is no single way of doing things. Norway’s Leo Østigård, in these same days, has lived a different kind of emotional swing. Night between 16 and 17 June, World Cup debut against Iraq, a goal from the corner flag. On the 20th, the birth of his first child. The Genoa defender followed it from a distance, on FaceTime, moment to moment. It would be absurd to read that as Østigård valuing football over family, or Doku the opposite. Different lives, different arrangements, things that stay off to the side.
Doku, 24, after a subdued first match against Egypt and missing the second due to a throat infection, would be expected — if fully fit again — to step up for a Belgium side that has looked unexpectedly fragile so far. And if the dilemma of the birth arrives while De Bruyne and his teammates are still in the tournament, it would be a better outcome than any early exit that simply removes the decision.
Whatever happens, present or not, he will do what he can for his team.