The All-Geriatric 35 & Over XI

We’ve done the young whippersnappers and we’ve done the ode to Britain the 25 and over squad, so it’s time to pay homage to experienced, the wily, the cunning: the Viagra crowd.

They say 40 is the new 30, which it ain’t. Just as the footballer’s 35 is not the new 30. Hell, 35 is not even the new 34. Perhaps it’s a common age to call it quits, perhaps those who make it to that point with health and quality is just that rare, but in compiling this little squad we’ve determined one thing: it’s not easy to be 35 and good.

But you knew that already.

Other things which you knew:

- It’s rather easy to find decent elderly defenders, what with experience playing such a large role in their qualities.
- Wingers? Not so much.
- 35 is not quite the cliff for keepers that it is for everyone else.
- Playing in Uzbekistan helps.

Edwin van der Sar (38)
Javier Zanetti (36), Fabio Cannavaro (36), Sami Hyypia (36), Roberto Carlos (36)
Robert Pires (35), Claude Makelele (36), Ze Roberto (35), Ryan Giggs (35)
Pippo Inzaghi (36), Rivaldo (37)

The difficulties were far and wide, with many a blank to be drawn. Hardest by some margin were the French duo of Pires and Makelele, what with Claude being accused of poor timing and lacking reaction – the hallmarks of a cooked footballer – and with Pires simply not being favored by Ernesto Valverde (but then Valverde’s record with the yellow Subs would seem to render his opinion null and useless). But alas, they’re there. (Accepting replacements, however.)

In the back it was fairly easy: Zanetti and Cannavaro, though lacking a step, are no brainers, while Hyypia has enjoyed a stellar start with Leverkusen and Bobby Carlos is, well, Bobby Carlos. Right now, Ze Roberto and Ryan Giggs need no introduction as fans of both league know these two have found the fountain of youth. (Ze Roberto is even whispering of a Brazilian recall.)

Up top Pippo Inzaghi proves scoring offside goals is like a fine wine, while Rivaldo has been tearing Uzbekistan apart as, arguably, the best footballer of his generation. Quality like that, as with Pippo’s positioning, knows no age limits.

Now, would either of these squads overtake the Under 25 or Over 25 editions? Absolutely not, proving once again as always: it’s a young man’s game.

Some Related Stories:

• The Weekly Quiz: League Positions.
• Danny Rose: The Art Of Impossibly High Standards
• Soundoff: The Most Disappointing Teams In World Football.
• Seventeen Years is a Long Time: Marseille Wins First Silverware Since 1993

Category: World Football

Tags: World Football

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share