“Today, I feel as though I am entering football’s university.” That was how Xavi Hernández began his first appearance as Netherlands head coach on Tuesday. He explained that Dutch football had taught him a great deal throughout his playing and coaching career, adding that he has long-standing ties to the country. Those links began when […]
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The entrance to Al Mokawloon Al Arab’s youth academy has an unexpectedly formidable presence. At first, the source of that impression is difficult to identify. It may come from the exterior, where heavy concrete panels and marble-effect edging shift in tone with the light, or from the uncompromising black steel gate. The large white Arabic […]
Continue ReadingIf Michael Olise lifts the World Cup, a small corner of a Hayes housing estate will belong eternally to France. It’s Olise’s own patch, a modest strip of park grass tucked among the west London suburban streets where, as a seven-year-old, he would train with his brother, Richard. “Playing football in that kind of setting […]
Continue ReadingA noticeable tremble ran through Christian Pulisic’s voice as he responded to the last question put to him at the 2026 World Cup. On the surface, the query was simple: how did the tournament as a whole measure up against his expectations? But the weight came from what lay beneath. For eight years, this World […]
Continue ReadingA persistent point of discussion in recent international competitions has centered on whether the legendary forward should remain in the starting lineup. He holds the men’s international scoring record with 146 goals for his nation, though detractors have increasingly argued that his overall contribution beyond finding the net has diminished. Given his colossal reputation and […]
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