Family life is intruding on the World Cup for some players in the shape of new arrivals, with Norway’s Leo Østigård following the birth of his first child by video link and Jérémy Doku contemplating leaving the Belgium squad to be with his wife when she gives birth, potentially missing a key match.
Østigård, who has been receiving parenting tips from his teammate Erling Haaland, provided long-distance support to his partner, Aurora Eidmann, as she gave birth to their son on Friday.
“I’m completely exhausted myself, it was absolutely amazing. She did so well, there wasn’t much I could say, I just had to help her work and get him out. I’m proud, amazing,” the 26-year-old said in a video published by the Norwegian FA on its social media channels. “When I saw him for the first time, I was blown away. It’s absolutely insane. I’m so happy and proud. It’s definitely the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
Østigård said that shortly after his son was born, the family’s peace was broken by a knock on his hotel room door. “Four lads came jumping into the room. It was probably Sander [Berge], Erling and Jørgen [Strand Larsen].”
Doku’s wife, Shireen, is due to give birth in the second week of July, when the quarter-finals are scheduled. Doku told Reuters: “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We’ll see what we can do.”
Belgium’s campaign started with a 1-1 draw against Egypt and Doku missing a match to be at the birth would appear to hinge on them not only advancing from their group but winning two knockout ties. Nonetheless, there has been criticism in some quarters, with France Pierron, a French television journalist for L’Équipe, saying of Doku: “You’re living out a childhood dream, yet you’re going to walk away from it all to attend the birth of your child – a disgusting moment, if you’ll pardon the expression, where the dad is completely useless.”
However, the remarks from Pierron have provoked a considerable backlash, with the newspaper Libération describing her comments as “the reaction of another age”. She subsequently posted: “I was expressing a personal opinion within the context of a debate. These remarks are solely my own and in no way reflect a collective position. I understand that they may have shocked, offended, or hurt some of you, and I am sorry for that. My intention was never to minimise the place or role of fathers with their partners and children.”
As it is, Doku will miss Belgium’s Group G game against Iran on Sunday because he has not recovered from a respiratory infection. Østigård, meanwhile, can look forward to playing Senegal in Group I at the New York New Jersey Stadium with a weight off his mind. He said: “I think it makes me a little more relaxed, that everything has gone well, because you never know. Now it’s just joy and I’m very happy that things are good, and that my boy is out.”
