Stars feeling effects of age
HAMBURG, Germany – The ticking clock is relentless, merciless and still undefeated against the aging athlete.
A few formerly dazzling figures at World Cup 2006 are learning as much.
The rain and cooler weather have shown up. And that may mitigate the age factor somewhat.
But even in milder temperatures, the World Cup is a taxing haul. It’s a young man’s tournament, indeed, as U.S. manager Bruce Arena observed during the last World Cup.
To play three demanding matches in 11 or 12 days, as teams do in the first round, is exhausting enough. The hot weather layered additional stress on the bodies, most of whom are coming off a nine-month domestic season anyway.
Nowhere is the evidence more compelling than with France’s once-resplendent Zinedine Zidane, who may be leaving the world’s stage in a manner unbefitting his spectacular career.
Zidane, who will retire at France’s elimination, turns 34 on Friday. That’s the day France concludes first-round play with a meaningful match against Togo (although the suspended Zidane won’t be involved). Les Bleus need a win, something they haven’t conjured in five World Cup matches since the final outside Paris eight years ago.
That 1998 team was built around Zidane. Seven other current French players were also members of that 1998 squad. Considering that France’s shining moment came eight full years ago, that’s probably about six holdovers too many.
The average French starting age in a 1-1 tie with South Korea was 30 years, 289 days – the oldest France has ever fielded.
How that happens, only manager Raymond Domenech can explain. For the rest of us, it looks like the worst tactical decision in France since the Maginot Line.
Zidane looks immobile among the game’s elite athletes. He still has his moments and can provide some good ideas, but his feet simply don’t move as nimbly as his mind anymore.
Czech Republic’s Pavel Nedved, 33, looked up to the task against the United States. But he seemed considerably less bright and lively five days later in the Czech loss to Ghana.
Alas, the body recovers much slower in the 30s. How much can Nedved have left for Italy on Thursday?
In the U.S. camp, Eddie Pope, 32, has been beaten twice for goals. He looked particularly feeble in losing his man on Italy’s early, telling strike.
Other squads here have seen the light (and there is plenty of light here, near the U.S. base in Hamburg, where the sun is up by 4:30 a.m. and sets after 10 p.m.).
Mexico brought 37-year-old Claudio Suarez to help mentor a young back line. But Suarez is where a 37-year-old should be during the World Cup: applauding and encouraging from the bench.
Germany did the same with Jens Nowotny, 32, who has yet to play. Nowotny may get on the field yet, but the veteran defender’s time clearly will be limited.
Maybe other teams can watch and learn.
Tirade could cost Kewell
Harry Kewell could miss Australia’s crucial World Cup match against Croatia if he is suspended for an outburst against a referee following a 2-0 loss to Brazil.
Kewell will have to explain his postmatch comments to a FIFA disciplinary panel after German referee Markus Merk complained the Australian winger insulted him.
It was in the “referee’s report that (Kewell) insulted the referee. It’s been taken up by the disciplinary committee,” FIFA communications director Markus Siegler said Monday. “He must now reply by June 20.”
Kewell played the entire match in the opening 3-1 win over Japan – Australia’s first win in World Cup history – and went on as a second-half substitute against Brazil on Sunday when the score was 1-0.
The Liverpool forward was upset by a number of calls that went against Australia. Merk called Australia for 25 fouls against only nine for Brazil.