Relentlessly ambitious and commercialized professional clubs recruit thousands of boys into intensive, four‑times‑a‑week training from the age of eight. Their development is of great importance for the clubs as well as their stakeholders. But why is this happening? Is it economically viable to invest in the training of young home-grown athletes, while time is pressing for good results?

The 21st World Cup is coming to an end with this weekend’s final. Many of the world’s top players performed really well with their national teams, advancing to the quarterfinals. But, further to that, several new players (some of whom were almost unknown to the fans), shined with their presence and performance during the World Cup.