Former players expect last hurrah from ageing stars in World Cup

New Delhi, June 13 (UNI) As the soccer world goes ga-ga over precocious prodigies like Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Theo Walcott or Cristiano Ronaldo, ageing stars would be striving for a last hurrah in their swansong World Cup appearance, predict former players.

''I think in every World Cup, you have this phenomenon and people debate on Old Guard vs the Young Turks. This time, you have a phalanx of exciting youngsters like Ronaldinho, Rooney, Messi and Christiano Ronaldo trying to hog the limelight ahead of the ageing stars like (Zinedine) Zidane, (David) Beckham, (Luis) Figo, Ronaldo.

It makes a sumptuous battle between generations and this has always been another spectacular sideshow.

''The new and obscure always generate interest but mark my words, veterans players would make life difficult for the youngsters in Germany and you will be treated to the last flicker before they hang up their boots,'' former Indian captain Prasun Banerjee told UNI.

''It's going to be a battle between experience and youthful exhuberance. Mature mind versus fresh legs. And if any team underestimates the likes of Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo or Beckham, god save them,'' he warned.

''And you never know when Zidane can catch you off-guard, Ronaldo can bulldoze your defence or a swerving trademark free-kick by Beckham leaves you bamboozled. They may have slowed down with age, but beware of their skills,'' he added.

Former international Muhammad Habib, who scored in Mohun Bagan's 2-2 draw against Pele's Cosmos club in 1977, echoed the view and in fact tipped a 30-nearing Thierry Henry for the Golden Boot.

''I think some of the senior players would be in the run for the Golden Boot and Henry, going by his prolific record, is the front-runner.

''Every player wants to sign off on a perfect note before walking into the twilight and knowing it's their last opportunity to make an impression, the ageing stars would have an extra incentive to give it their best. I'm expecting their best in this World Cup,'' he told UNI.

''I'm not saying that the youngsters won'make their mark. You never know who's waiting to burst into the scene in Germany. Who could imagine that then a rather diminutive teenager capped in 1958 World Cup would go down in the history of soccer as Pele, the greatest player ever?'' he asked.

''But my point is don't ignore the veterans. They have been there earlier and know what it takes to succeed at that level. In contrast, the youngsters are always prone to be overawed by the occasion and the reputation of their rivals. That gives the senior players a certain edge,'' Habib explained.

Former women international Shanti Mallik said, ''Football is not about fresh legs only. Of course you have to run for full 90 minutes to stay in touch but there are players who defy age.

''Teams like Germany have traditionally reposed more faith in experience than youth and still succeeded. Make no mistake, senior players are fit enough for the highest level of compeition. Else, they would not have found a place in the side,'' said the former football-turned-coach.

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