Xavi Simons living up to hype as Netherlands put faith in 'exceptional' attacker

Fame came early to Xavi Simons, the footballer millions knew about before he could really call himself a star. He was the kid who had a dedicated social media staff at the age of 14, an endorsement contract with a major sportswear firm at 13.

At seven he was recognised far beyond the junior pitches of Spain where, with his long curly hair and his nimble close control, he was catching the eye in the age-group teams of Barcelona.

Xavi – he prefers to go by his first name – has been a star-in-waiting for most of his life. He is 20 now, and, while that is hardly a time to start looking back with satisfaction, he can confidently feel that some of the scepticism that swirled around him during his childhood and his teens was misplaced.

Xavi was all hype, some used to suggest; he was a starlet at least as agile at getting himself marketed as at dribbling past fellow schoolboys.

In Amsterdam on Friday evening, Xavi will take on the finalists from the last World Cup, France, in the jersey of his native Netherlands, and do so thrust into the role of senior attacking midfielder.

He will carry considerable responsibilities in a Dutch side injury has deprived of Frenkie de Jong, among others. The manager Ronald Koeman will ask Simons to take on much of the creative work, given he is missing two of his better attacking duellers, Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay because of fitness issues.

But Koeman trusts Xavi. He has started all seven matches for the Netherlands since Koeman began his second stint in charge of the national team and his club form in that period fully justifies the promotion.

Last season, nobody scored more goals in the Dutch Eredivisie than Xavi, who had agreed to spend the last year of his teens at PSV Eindhoven.

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