Former international lives along with Cody Gakpo and points to Euro 2008

It is unlikely to have escaped very many people that former PSV fan favorite Cody Gakpo and his partner Noa van der Bij have announced that their unborn child has died. Khalid Boulahrouz experienced a similar kind of situation as an international for the Netherlands during the 2008 European Championship in Austria and Switzerland.

During the 2008 European Championship, the Netherlands national team played in the group of death against world champions Italy, runners-up France, and Romania. Against all expectations, the team led by national coach Marco van Basten breezed through the group stage with spectacular wins over Italy (3-0) and France (4-1), and a businesslike victory over Romania (2-0) with a B-team.

In the matches against Italy and France, Boulahrouz played as a right-back in Van Basten's formation. In the quarterfinal, the Netherlands ran into Guus Hiddink's Russia, and on the eve of that match, the news came out that Boulahrouz's daughter had been stillborn.

That is why Oranje played that match with mourning bands and Boulahrouz was eventually replaced at the start of the second half by John Heitinga. Speaking to Voetbal International, the former defender says he is living with Gakpo and in doing so the former international also points to 2008.

For Boulahrouz, Gakpo is the right man on the left-wing position against Morocco. After that, the analyst discusses the situation of the forward.

''On the other flank, Gakpo has experienced something very impactful on a personal level. Comparable to what I experienced myself during the European Championship in 2008. It’s a matter of feelings, of how you deal with it'', Boulahrouz begins to tell VI, whom ultimately decided to stay at the European Championship in 2008.

''Marco van Basten, the national team coach at the time, left the choice to me. I think Koeman approaches it in the same way. The atmosphere within the squad is very close-knit, so I think Gakpo will receive a great deal of support within this group. I can't determine which choice is right for Cody. That really is up to him. And whatever choice he makes, everyone has to respect it'', said the former defender.