5 reasons for Netherlands' decline as a football superpower

5) Dutch academies produce good players but not competitive teams

Ajax have failed to stand up and deliver in the UEFA Youth League

The home of Totaalvoetbal (Total Football) has world class academies churning out talents by the dozen. With Dutch legends such as Dennis Bergkamp and Edwin van der Sar taking care of day-to-day matters and business at Ajax and Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Feyenoord, the youth setup is in good hands.

However, while they are able to train a number of players who are technically sound, they have been unable to create a team capable of fighting for honours in the youth leagues.

Take for example the UEFA Youth League which is the youth version of the UEFA Champions League. Teams drawn in the same pots in the senior competition play each other in the Youth League as well.

However, Ajax have failed to establish themselves as serious contenders in the four years the competition has been in existence. While it is understandable that their senior teams would struggle in the face of top European clubs having better finances, that excuse doesn't hold water in the youth leagues.

Since the competition's inception in 2013/14, Ajax have only managed to reach the quarter-finals twice. PSV Eindhoven have never progressed beyond the Round of 16.

Until and unless these junior teams - which are predominantly Dutch - achieve success in the youth level, it is hard to envision them performing at the senior level.