I have no idea what the Dev's have done but I'm interesed in Eastern Europe/Soviet Union stuff so...
Regarding the nationality of players they could just do it like, Sandis Ozolins for instance. Latvian D-man who was born in 1972 in Sigulda, Latvia. Yet it says for his info Sigulda, Soviet Union (But still give him a Latvia icon or give him a Soviet&Latvian Icon)
Sandis Ozoli