FIFA World Cup 2014 Photos

Five Old-Timers Eyeing World Cup Send-Offs

May 29, 2014 17:54

Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff had to wait until he was 40 to win the World Cup, proving that age is no barrier to success in the sport's most prestigious competition.Here are five players hoping to roll back the years and make an impact at this year's tournament in Brazil.

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For all the achievements of his glittering eight-year spell with Chelsea, two-time African Footballer of the Year Drogba, 36, has never tasted success on the international stage. Captain of the Ivory Coast since 2006, Drogba scored his country's first ever World Cup goal at that year's tournament in Germany. But he has twice seen his side beaten on penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Drogba has scored more than 60 goals for his country.(Images: AP/AFP; Text: AFP)
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After a superb season in which he excelled in a new, deep-lying midfield organiser role with Liverpool, England captain Gerrard will attempt to put several years of international heartache behind him at almost certainly his last World Cup. The Liverpudlian, who turns 34 this week, will be playing at his sixth major tournament. He has never previously got further than the quarter-finals though.(AP/AFP)
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Klose, 35, could not want for more motivation as he heads to Brazil for his last World Cup. Already the only player to have scored at least four goals at three different tournaments, the spring-heeled Lazio striker needs just one goal to tie Ronaldo's all-time goal-scoring record of 15.(AP/AFP)
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Pirlo's career appeared to be on the wane when he was allowed to leave AC Milan in 2011, but he has inspired Juventus to three successive Serie A titles. It is now eight years since Pirlo played a pivotal role in Italy's triumph at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but although he is now 35, his extraordinary passing range and laser-guided set-piece ability still set him apart

. Pirlo has played 108 games for Italy with 13 goals.(AP/AFP)
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One of the architects of Spain's consecutive successes at the 2008 European Championship, the 2010 World Cup, and the 2012 European Championship, 34-year-old Xavi will once again be the heartbeat of Vicente del Bosque's side in Brazil. After a season of disappointment with Barcelona, the player who incarnates the 'tiki-taka' passing style more than any other will be doubly determined to prove that reports of the demise of possession football have been greatly exaggerated. Has played 130 games for Spain, scoring 13 goals.(AP/AFP)

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