Jeremy Doku's World Cup has taken a detour through one of life's bigger moments. The Belgium winger flew from the United States to London to be present for the birth of his son — a boy named Praise, born Monday — before flying back to rejoin the squad in Seattle on Tuesday evening.
It's the kind of story that puts football in its proper place. Belgium's Group G situation is tense enough without their best attacking threat missing another game, but nobody's arguing Doku should have stayed on the bench in Los Angeles instead of being in that delivery room.
Why he missed the Iran draw
Doku had already been ruled out of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Iran before the birth became imminent. Coach Rudi Garcia confirmed on Saturday that Doku had been dealing with illness since Friday and wouldn't feature. "I don't want to get players to play if they're not medically up for the game," Garcia said. "100 percent medically is more important."
Team doctor Brahim Hacene confirmed that Doku had been receiving treatment for several days, which made the flight to London medically safe. He was accompanied by a second doctor, Brecht De Coninck. Everyone's fine — mother, father, and baby.
Belgium, though, are not entirely fine. Two draws from two games against Egypt and Iran has them sitting in a precarious position in Group G. They need a result against New Zealand in Vancouver on Friday to advance, and they'll be expecting Doku — back in camp Tuesday night — to be fit enough to start.
A depleted Belgium attack without him looked toothless against Iran. With him available and presumably cleared, Friday's odds against New Zealand shift noticeably in their favour. But two dropped points are already gone, and a draw in that final game might not be enough depending on how the rest of the group plays out.
Doku will rejoin the squad Tuesday evening in Seattle. Whether he's match-sharp after the travel, the emotion, and the illness recovery is the question Garcia will need to answer before Friday.
