Wesley Sneijder, a former Dutch national football team player, said that coach Xavi's experience does not meet the standards of coaching the Dutch national team, and he also questioned the speed with which he was appointed to the position.
Xavi took over as coach of the Dutch national team, succeeding Ronaldo Koeman, after they exited the World Cup against the Moroccan national team in the round of 32.
The French network "RMC" reported that Xavi's start with the Dutch national team was quite convincing, and his contract with the Dutch national team extends until the end of the 2030 World Cup, and he recorded a pretty good start, with a 1-1 draw with Germany on Thursday, then a 2-1 victory over Serbia on Sunday.
But despite playing two matches unbeaten at the beginning of his career, the former coach of the Qatari club Al-Sadd and Barcelona was not free from criticism.
Schneider, who played 134 international matches and scored 31 goals, told the Cadena Ser network: “As a coach, he has little experience. I find it a bit strange; Because they chose a coach for the national team who did not actually meet the standards set by the Dutch Federation itself.”
He added: “Xavi obtained his A and B coaching licenses and his professional license within four weeks, while the Dutch Federation standard requires all coaches to complete a training period of four and a half years. I wish Xavi all the best from the bottom of my heart, but as a coach, his experience is limited.”
Xavi became the first non-Dutch coach to lead the Netherlands national team since 1978. He also led Barcelona to win the Spanish League and the Spanish Super Cup in 2023.
He had previously won 7 titles during his tenure as coach of Al Sadd.
Olivier Giroud, a former French national football team player, who is very likely to have this be his last season on the field, confirmed that he is undergoing specific treatments to relieve the pain he suffers from in his body, after his long career on the field exhausted him.
The French network “RMC” reported that Giroud’s career is nearing the end, but the player; The 40-year-old wants to maintain his level until the end.
Giroud revealed this week that it is very likely that this will be his last season as a professional player, after he continued his career for a long time.
In an interview with the newspaper "L'Equipe", Giroud, the world champion with France in 2018, admitted that he had to undergo injections in order to be able to continue playing at a tolerable level.
“Just yesterday, I had injections to help my joints, both with hyaluronic acid and cortisone to help heal and reduce inflammation,” Giroux said.
He added: “Yes; I suffered a lot because of my ankle. I barely have any ligaments left in my right ankle, so it's swollen. And the younger players, and this used to make me laugh, would say to me: Why do you have a tennis ball on your right ankle? I told them: It is a 40-year-old ankle.
He continued: “There is also (pain) in my lower back, of course, and in my knee, where I underwent a meniscus removal operation when I was 19 years old. It makes some noises, but you can soften it up a bit. And I'm still standing. But playing without injuries as you age is impossible.”
To celebrate his 40th birthday yesterday, Wednesday, Giroud gave two interviews to the newspapers “L’Equipe” and “Canal+”, during which he revealed his possible retirement from professional football at the end of the season.
“As a player, I think this is probably my last season,” he said. That's why I enjoy every moment. I feel at peace with myself and everything I have achieved in my career. “I feel more comfortable than ever.”
He added: “The goal is to enjoy every moment, and continue to find joy in what I do and what I love every day. Returning to France and making this decision after such a long journey abroad... is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.”
Giroud won the French League title with Montpellier in 2012, before returning to the French League in the summer of 2025 and joining Lille, after a year he spent in the United States with Los Angeles FC.
Before that, Giroud played for Arsenal, Chelsea and Milan. During his career, he won 15 titles, including the “World Cup” and the “UEFA Champions League” in 2021.
Japanese Kei Nishikori, the most decorated Asian player in men's competition, on Thursday, brought down the curtain on his career by losing to American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-4 at home and among his fans in the Tokyo Tennis Tournament (500 points).
Nishikori (36 years old) announced his retirement last May, after achieving a series of achievements during his professional career, but he was unable to reach the ranks of the game’s elite due to the repeated injuries he suffered.
Fans gathered at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, chanting and applauding the former world number four, who lost to Tiafoe, the second seed in the tournament, in the first round.
“Playing in Japan is always special,” Nishikori told the fans during a ceremony held on the field after the match.
While holding back his tears and with a childish smile, he added: “I was hoping to do more and perform a little better, but I am happy that I maintained my competitiveness until the end.”
He continued: “I am proud that I did not give up and continued playing until the end.”
Nishikori became the first Japanese player to reach the final of a Grand Slam tournament, when he lost the US Open final in 2014 to Croatian Marin Cilic.
He was also the first Japanese player to exceed the threshold of the top ten in the world rankings of the Professional Players Association, and he won 12 titles during his career, including two titles in Tokyo.
Nishikori also won a bronze medal in the men's singles competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Injuries plagued him for years, and he said this year that he was suffering a lot physically.
He had the best season of his career in 2014, when he won four titles on the professional tour, and was able to eliminate the then world number one Serbian Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the US Open, before losing the final to Cilic.
In his last participation in a Grand Slam tournament, last August, Nishikori lost to his younger compatriot Rei Sakamoto, 20 years old, in the third round of the qualifiers for the US Championship.
