|
|
|
| June 4, 2002 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 22,1423 |
Is age withering world champs?
SEOUL, June 3: They would certainly hate to admit it but the world champions are getting old.
With a majority of their first choice players well over 30, France are in danger of losing out to a younger generation, personified by the Senegal team which shocked them 1-0.
For that opening match of the World Cup, coach Roger Lemerre opted for a starting line-up with seven players in their 30s and a defence with an average age of over 32. Senegal were on average 25 years old.
While the French proved tactically superior to their opponents, they were physically overwhelmed in the midfield and unable to pick up the pace.
Against sweeper Frank Leboeuf, 34, and captain Marcel Desailly 33, striker El Hadji Diouf, 22, often found it easy to stretch the creaking French defence.
“Everything was going too fast for the French,” Diouf mocked. “They were not up to speed.” Diouf outpaced Leboeuf on the wing to deliver a cross for midfielder Pape Bouba Diop who slotted the winning goal after 30 minutes.
The French, naturally, have a different view of the issue.
“We are not old, we are experienced,” said midfielder Emmenuel Petit who turns 32 in September.
“We know how to prepare ourselves and how to cope with our physical condition. It’s crucial when you enter a championship like the World Cup.”
“Everybody has his own view on the match,” hit back Lilian Thuram, 30, the youngest member of the French defence.
“We could have done a little bit more to snatch a draw. But I think France showed great qualities.”
But you can’t fool Father Time - or the medical staff.
“It’s not that they were not well-prepared,” team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret said. “It’s the fact they are four years older. They have had four more tiring seasons.”
Since winning the 2000 European championship, Lemerre has infused young blood into the squad by calling up players like Mickael Silvestre, Philippe Christanval or Willy Sagnol.
But so far, they have been only on the bench.
The only change Lemerre is considering for the Uruguay match on Thursday is to put in playmaker Johan Micoud for 34-year-old Youri Djorkaeff.
Playmaker Zinedine Zidane, struggling to recover from a torn thigh muscle, is still doubtful for the game.
Another idea could be to start with three defensive midfielders instead of two. In this case, Alain Boghossian, 32, could partner Petit and Patrick Vieira.
During France’s preparation in the French Alps, team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret had emphasised only a very fit side would be able to go all the way through the month-long tournament.
“It’s going to be a World Cup for strong men,” Ferret said. “Those who aren’t at their physical best will have very little chance.”—Reuters
|
|
|
|
