January 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the major change to eligibility rules for international players that offered the possibility for those previously capped by one country at youth level to play for another at senior level. It was a change that set off many tugs of the heart over the head – or vice versa – in the intervening years, and the latest player to make a decision on his national team future is the 23-year-old Amine Gouiri.
There had been months of speculation over whether he would stick with France, where a future spot with Les Bleus looked a real possibility given his rapid development through the junior ranks, or switch to Algeria, who had been courting him for some while. France have lost many players to Algeria, and vice versa, and Gouiri’s decision has not gone down well, particularly because it took so long and left so many people waiting.
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Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines
