Of course, 30 years seems a lot in today’s football. Yet, a lot of players at almost that age or a little over show they are anything but old.

The leader of the French pack is the irrepressible Zinedine Zidane. Fresh from blowing out the candles on his 34th birthday cake, Zizou has arguably saved the best for last, producing some of the finest football of his career as he prepares to hang up his boots for good.

Two other stalwarts of that vintage France 98 side, Lilian Thuram and Fabien Barthez, are also enjoying Indian summers. The 34-year-old Thuram has produced some typically reliable, skilful performances without relinquishing his trademark speed, while Barthez has yet again underlined why he is France’s number one keeper.

The high-flying French are not the only ones in town with some illustrious veterans in their ranks. The other three semi-finalists also boast some seasoned campaigners still capable of cutting it at the highest level. Lining up against Domenech’s side on Wednesday will be none other than Portugal’s Luis Figo. Now 33, the Inter Milan midfielder has helped take his country to their best showing since 1966.

Perhaps the most inspiring example is the case of Germany’s Jens Lehmann. Something of a late developer, the 36-year-old keeper had never appeared in a FIFA World Cup match before Germany 2006. In spite of that, coach Jurgen Klinsmann named Lehmann as his first choice between the sticks, and the Arsenal man repaid his faith by stringing together some excellent performances, putting him in with a fighting chance of succeeding team-mate and erstwhile German number Oliver Kahn as adidas Golden Ball winner.

As for the hosts’ conquerors, Italy, their brigade of veteran warriors could hardly have a higher pedigree. Leading the way is skipper Fabio Cannavaro, who at the ripe old age of 32 is following the proud tradition of Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, two of the finest exponents of the defensive arts in the history of the game. Among the other Italian warhorses still going strong is last night’s goal hero, 31-year-old Alessandro Del Piero, who proved that, as well as passing on valuable experience to the Azzurri’s younger players, he still has the talent and composure to make a match-winning difference.

And they are not the only ones. David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Phillip Cocu, Pavel Nedved, Roberto Ayala and Henrik Larsson have featured among a strong supporting cast of old boys who have shown at Germany 2006 that, in football at least, life really can begin at 30.

Source: WCoffsite