Netherlands
Xavi Simons enrols on a Harvard course while recovering from injury
He will study business, an unsurprising choice given the increasingly entrepreneurial ambitions of players like him.
Xavi as Netherlands manager is a compelling story, but not everything that glitters is gold
The former Barcelona coach promises a return to the DNA of Dutch football, but he was not the first choice and will have to work with players who may not fit his ideas.
Indonesia’s Football Federation signs a development agreement with Ajax to bring the Dutch club’s methods and training model to the country
The Dutch club will send coaches, trainers and executives to Indonesia to share a youth football model renowned around the world.
Netherlands and Morocco in a long-running competition over dual-nationality talent, with Robin van Persie’s son now involved
The balance of power has been shifting in recent years, as players with multiple passports no longer treat African national teams as a fallback option.
Japan without several key players, holding its own against anyone
Moriyasu’s Japan without Mitoma and Minamino among others, a strong showing against the Oranje.