There's life in them old dogs yet

Anything Dino Zoff and Roger Milla can do, so too can Lothar Matthaeus and Carlos Valderrama. Italian goalkeeper Zoff won a World Cup winner's medal at the age of 40, while Cameroon's Milla was 42 when he scored against Russia at the USA'94 World Cup. Their exploits may have partially paved the way for an army of Over 30s due to line out in the coming weeks in France.

Significantly, it is not just average sides such as Romania and Bulgaria who will resort to an old guard for these finals. Given the lack of development in the soccer environments of many former East Bloc countries, it is not surprising to find Romanian coach Anghel Iordanescu resorting to the familiar figures of Gheorghe Hagi (33), Marius Lacatus (34) and Gica Popescu (31).

Likewise, the presence of Hristo Stoichkov (32), Krassimir Balakov (32) and Trifon Ivanov (33) in Hristo Bonev's Bulgarian squad surprises no one.

What is a surprise, however, is to find some "experienced" names among the squad list of traditional tournament favourites. Perhaps the most remarkable comeback of the lot has been made by Lothar Matthaeus (37), of Bayern Munich, who is preparing to line out in the fifth World Cup of his prestigious career. What is more, Matthaeus may not be going along just to make up the numbers, since the only other libero in the squad, the "youngster" Olaf Thon (32), is still far from match fit.

Matthaeus' call into the squad owes everything to the fact that first choice sweeper Mattias Sammer was ruled out months ago by an injury that has kept the Borussia Dortmund player out of soccer for almost a year. With Thon also in doubt, German coach Berti Vogts swallowed pride, forgot recent public disagreements with the never-short-for-a-self-promotional-word Matthaeus and recalled the man who led Germany to a World Cup triumph in 1990 in Italy.

Not that Vogts will have to take Matthaeus by the hand and introduce him to the German new wave. Twelve members of the German squad (including 1990 winners Juergen Koehler, Juergen Klinsmann and Thomas Haessler, as well as Andreas Moeller and Thomas Helmer) are over 30.

Nor is Vogts alone in looking to age and experience to provide a steadying hand on the tiller. Reigning champions Brazil still look to Carlos Dunga (35), now playing out a seemingly dignified retirement with Jubilo Iwata in Japan, for leadership, on and off the field.

Such is the importance of Dunga's presence that a recent defeat by Argentina and even a 1-1 draw with Spanish club side Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night were partly explained away by coach Mario Zagallo by pointing to the absence of Dunga. Other old-timers in the Brazil squad include defender Aldair (33), goalkeeper Taffarel (32) and striker Romario (32).

If Matthaeus thought he was the only man playing in France this month who also played in Spain 16 years ago, he can think again. Inter Milan defender Giuseppe Bergomi was only 18 in 1982 when he stepped into the Italian team to play in the final, defeating West Germany 3-1.

Bergomi (34), last played for Italy in a friendly against Denmark in June 1991, seven years ago, yet that did not stop Italian coach Cesare Maldini sending for him two weeks ago. Maldini is concerned about the form of his first choice sweeper, Alessandro Costacurta, a victim of AC Milan's drastic season, and has therefore decided to cover his options with Bergomi, who has been in splendid form all season and who is also a versatile defender.

Experience, too, may have influenced Maldini's decision to recall Roberto Baggio (31). After all, Baggio has played only four times for Italy since he hit his penalty kick high over the bar at the end of the 1994 final. Furthermore, Baggio's contribution to Italy's qualifying run was limited to 25 minutes as a substitute in a 3-0 home win against Poland 13 months ago. During those 25 minutes, mind you, he did score a brilliant third goal. Leaving aside goalkeepers, who tend to age better than outfield players, there are still many examples of cases where coaches have followed the example of Zagallo, Vogts and Maldini in summoning experienced players whose best days are perhaps well behind them.

Such would appear to be the case with regard to Colombian playmaker Carlos Valderrama (37), Belgium's Enzo Scifo (32, and not included in the squad for the play-offs against Ireland last autumn), Austrian striker Toni Polster (34, and leading Austrian national team goalscorer of all time), Yugoslav playmaker Dragan Stojkovic (33, and like Dunga out to grass in the dollar-fertile pastures of Japanese soccer with Nagoya), Belgium's Franky Van Der Elst (37, and still an important figure for newly crowned champions Bruges) and Nigerian striker Rashidi Yekini (34, with Grasshoppers Zurich).

Perhaps not all of the above will play much part in France'98. Perhaps many of them will make their contribution from the sidelines, putting their experience at the disposal of younger team-mates.

Some, however, are likely to play an important role on and off the field. In so doing, they may prove that even in the frenetic, over-stressed world of modern soccer, there is still life after 30.