ENGLAND's Theo Walcott will be the youngest player at the World Cup finals in Germany. Tunisia's 40-year-old goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel will be the oldest player at the tournament. The 17-year-old Walcott's call-up was a major surprise with the striker yet to start a first team game for Arsenal. Walcott could become the youngest player since Pele in Sweden in 1958 to score a goal at the finals. Boumnijel, should he feature for the North African side, will become the fifth oldest player in World Cup history behind Cameroon's Roger Milla, Northern Ireland's Pat Jennings, England's Peter Shilton and Italian Dino Zoff. One hundred and two of the 736 players registered by the 32 teams in the finals play in England. In all, a total of 52 internationals from 23 teams involved ply their trade in host nation Germany. Switzerland have the largest contingent of players based in Germany, with coach Jakob 'Kobi' Kuhn placing his trust in seven Bundesliga men. Five Bundesliga players figure in Karel Bruckner's Czech Republic squad, while Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar has the same number. The German top flight is also represented by four players in Iran's final 23. Even world champions Brazil are getting in on the act, putting their faith in a quartet of German-based players as they go in search of back-to-back titles. Ze Roberto and Lucio won the German league and cup double with Bayern Munich this season while Gilberto is at Hertha Berlin and Juan at Bayer Leverkusen. Another South American team, Paraguay, meanwhile, will line up with a trio of forwards from the Bundesliga after coach Anibal Ruiz named Bayern team-mates Julio Dos Santos and Roque Santa Cruz, as well as Werder Bremen's Nelson Valdez in his squad. Overall, German football boasts more players in other nations' World Cup squads than every other country bar England. French spirit missing ZINEDINE Zidane says France need to recover the team spirit of previous years if they are to be successful at the World Cup finals in Germany. "We have good players but we lack the virtues of previous sides when we were a united group, all pulling in the same direction. It is coming little by little," Zidane said in an interview with Real Madrid TV. Zidane was a central figure in the French team that won the World Cup on home turf in 1998 and the European Championships in 2000. But poor showings in the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea, and the European Championships in Portugal two years ago have left their mark on the midfielder. "We could do something special but you have to remember we went out of the last two big tournaments without doing anything," he added. The finals in Germany, which start on 9 June, will be the 33-year-old's farewell as a professional footballer after he announced his decision to retire from the game last month. France are in Group G along with Switzerland, South Korea and Togo. Petkovic dreaming SERBIA and Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic is dreaming that an unfancied team will surprise everyone by winning the World Cup. "It would be nice for a change if a team that has never won the World Cup before does it this time. It would be a joy for football fans around the world," he said. "Naturally, I hope we can be that mouse but it will be a tall order. Most experts and pundits say we will do well to get past the group stage and I can't disagree. "I can't promise we will win the World Cup but I also can't stand here and say that we won't and don't want to. I have always been optimistic in life and we are going to Germany in high spirits with a positive approach." Serbia and Montenegro are in difficult Group C with Argentina, The Netherlands and Ivory Coast. Fullback Goran Gavrancic said the team was confident of going far in the competition, if they reached the knockout stage. "We are in the toughest group and the basic goal is to get through it," he said. "But if we can do that and put two of our rivals on an early flight home, we will be very confident that even a semi-final berth is realistic." Gavrancic said the team's first priority was to get a result in their opening match against the Netherlands in Leipzig on 11 June which central defender Nemanja Vidic will miss through suspension. "His absence will be a massive blow and it will shift the team's balance but the most important thing is to avoid injuries in the run-up. "Keeping a clean sheet against the Dutch without him will be very difficult though." Serbia and Montenegro let in only one goal in 10 unbeaten matches in qualifying and Gavrancic said they would be just as determined to make it difficult for the opposition to score in Germany. "We will play our hearts out for the fans and the country, we will be a tough nut to crack and that's all I can promise." Cahill struggling AUSTRALIA midfielder Tim Cahill has admitted he is struggling to be fit for the Socceroos' opening World Cup game against Japan next month. The Everton player has been sidelined with a knee injury but still harbours hopes of regaining fitness in time to play a full part in Germany. Cahill said he was pleased with the way with the knee was responding to treatment but still in doubt for the Group F clash against Japan on June 12. "It's really difficult because I've partially torn my posterior cruciate," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio on Friday. "If I've got half a chance of making it, I'll be there because this is the biggest occasion ever for a football team, but I'm really positive about everything." Cahill's selection in the Socceroos squad triggered a row between Australia and Everton after the English club's manager David Moyes said Everton had wanted the final say on whether he could go to the World Cup. Tensions have since simmered and Cahill said he was happy with the way the matter had been handled. "The biggest thing people need to understand is Everton pay my wages," he said. "I've got great respect for my manager and the way he thinks of me. "He is just looking out for me. I love Australia and I love Everton. This is all about me getting fit." Group F also contains defending champions Brazil and Croatia.
