Monday, June 05, 2006
Age Is Only A Number
Today's post comes from our favorite Scottish International, Stevie Hay. He's here to throw some cold water on the argument that the Czechs are getting a little long in the tooth...
With all the recent chat about the average age of the Czech team, i.e. they're too old; I thought it would be pertinent to investigate it a little further.
I will admit, however, I am in the 'they're too old' camp - although, I also believe if they make it out of the group, they will win the World Cup.
Although my analysis is rough (I only used the year of birth), it still makes interesting reading.
I also removed two goalkeepers from each squad, doing this concentrates the numbers on the outfield players.
For Group E, it is actually Italy that has the oldest team - but their age roughly equates with the US and the Czechs.
Ghana has a very young team (who were impressive in beating South Korea at the weekend) - the young and the restless?
Italy 28.7
Czech 28.5
US 28.4
Ghana 25.2
When you analyze the ages with some of the favorites of the competitions, Brazil are one of the oldest. Has anyone been saying they're too old?
There is a marked difference to Holland, Argentina and England - so will the youthfulness help?
Italy 28.7
Brazil 28.6
Czech 28.5
US 28.4
Holland 26.9
Argentina 26.8
Germany 26.5
England 25.6
Ghana 25.2
Note: If you remove Theo Walcott from the England squad, they jump up a whole year.
I think that focusing on the age is a bit misleading, if you get tired or a few injuries, you have to rely on your squad.
It is squad depth that's important and the Czechs definitely have that in spades.
With all the recent chat about the average age of the Czech team, i.e. they're too old; I thought it would be pertinent to investigate it a little further.
I will admit, however, I am in the 'they're too old' camp - although, I also believe if they make it out of the group, they will win the World Cup.
Although my analysis is rough (I only used the year of birth), it still makes interesting reading.
I also removed two goalkeepers from each squad, doing this concentrates the numbers on the outfield players.
For Group E, it is actually Italy that has the oldest team - but their age roughly equates with the US and the Czechs.
Ghana has a very young team (who were impressive in beating South Korea at the weekend) - the young and the restless?
Italy 28.7
Czech 28.5
US 28.4
Ghana 25.2
When you analyze the ages with some of the favorites of the competitions, Brazil are one of the oldest. Has anyone been saying they're too old?
There is a marked difference to Holland, Argentina and England - so will the youthfulness help?
Italy 28.7
Brazil 28.6
Czech 28.5
US 28.4
Holland 26.9
Argentina 26.8
Germany 26.5
England 25.6
Ghana 25.2
Note: If you remove Theo Walcott from the England squad, they jump up a whole year.
I think that focusing on the age is a bit misleading, if you get tired or a few injuries, you have to rely on your squad.
It is squad depth that's important and the Czechs definitely have that in spades.
