On being an expert with Sony for the Euros
Always, always. So I’m still with Bengaluru FC for one year at least, but I have this one month break. I’m doing this with Sony and one of the reasons why I do it is because I’m anyway going to watch. So if I’m going to watch, why not be at a studio with like minded people, different personalities come over there, we sit there, we discuss the game and, you know, and it’s fun. I’m pretty sure you’ll understand, you will know the information when you watch your matches with friends, it is always better. So why not when I’m anyway going to be awake, going to watch. So I thought, yes, I’ve chosen a few matches now, I’m not doing the whole Euros because my son Dhruv, probably wants my attention also. But whenever I can, I’ll definitely go and join the lads at the studio, watch the game, talk about it and discuss it. Yeah, it’s one of the best football that you can watch. All the top stars are going to come. So why not?
On his favourites for the Euros
First I just hope that there is one dark horse that does really well for us, neutrals. I hope Hungary or Turkey do that. I was watching some replays of the Czech Republic against, I don’t remember who they were playing. They look very strong. So for us neutrals, I hope we get at least one or two games where they were like, ‘oh, what did this happen?’ Favorites… All the usual suspects like Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and England, you have to pick one, I think I’ll pick England because I think they’re in a very sweet spot. Now, the combination of experience and youth is amazing and the players they have are all world beaters who have done really well domestically and for the Champions League.
On the career span of athletes getting longer
I think yes, it has increased but I think it is correlated to the fact that even our lifespan has increased. I think the knowledge of how to keep fit, not only for sports but generalized human beings has increased. And that is why you will see a lot of us human beings living a little bit more of an age bracket than what it was 20-30 years back. And the same way you will see a lot of sports people playing till an age which is 35-40 than what it was 20 years back. I still remember Zidane retired at 32 (34). I still remember 10-20 years ago, people used to retire at 30. So yes, it has definitely increased. The reasons why are probably awareness, a lot of scientific evolutions, having the knowledge of getting a team eating the right stuff, getting the right supplements, having a good team around you. When it comes to massage treatments, physios, sauna, everything, I think the culmination of everything is the reason probably why a lot of players have physically sustained and played for a longer time.
