With the Gold Cup group stage and AC Milan providing us with the only mid-July fodder of note, the Star Sixes tournament in London couldn’t have picked a better moment to satisfy the footballing public’s desire for some semi-actual football.
The tournament pitted former international stars against each other in some small-sided, six-on-six competition. The tournament was won on Sunday by France, who featured Robert Pires, Eric Abidal, William Gallas and Youri Djorkaeff.
Other players of note at the tournament included Spain’s Carles Puyol, Portugal’s Deco, Nigeria’s Jay-Jay Okocha, Mexico’s Jared Borgetti, Italy’s Alessandro Del Piero, Germany’s Michael Ballack, England’s Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen and Brazil’s Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo.
Here are some of the tournament’s best goals from its biggest stars.
Juninho | Brazil
Juninho is magic (still!) #StarSixes pic.twitter.com/U302DXImgV
— EverythingMFC (@EverythingMFC) July 13, 2017
Jared Borgetti | Mexico
Nice finish from former @OfficialBWFC striker @borgetti58 #SPAMEX #StarSixes pic.twitter.com/0BqNq8Cxrs
— Star Sixes (@StarSixes) July 14, 2017
Julio Baptista | Brazil
That's why he's the beast.
Baptista puts Brazil 2-0 up. #StarSixes— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) July 14, 2017
Steven Gerrard | England
Leading by example again! @LFC legend Steven Gerrard does not mess about there. The skipper seals England's 3-1 win #ENGSCO #StarSixes pic.twitter.com/DXkNW2bV1V
— Star Sixes (@StarSixes) July 14, 2017
Michael Owen | England
It was Scotland last night, but tonight it's England playing tiki-taka football, as @themichaelowen nets his second #ENGSCO #StarSixes pic.twitter.com/SOmUBv7iLZ
— Star Sixes (@StarSixes) July 14, 2017
Deco | Portugal
Enjoying @starsixes Great to be back at it #starsixes #o2arena #FRAPOR #Portugal pic.twitter.com/bJCTEStuNq
— Deco 20 (@Deco20oficial) July 14, 2017
Robert Pires assist | France
Robert Pires dropping a shoulder and leaving Carlos Puyol in last week. pic.twitter.com/WI8J2UAj7q
— Ball Street (@BallStreet) July 17, 2017
And it wouldn’t be a tournament comprised of old people without some really horrific challenges.
Danny Murphy | England
Danny Murphy with his best Boris Johnson impression #StarSixes pic.twitter.com/mVLTeYfiOU
— Stuart (@StuartGatelan) July 13, 2017
Carles Puyol | Spain
Puyol doesn't f*ck about #StarSixes pic.twitter.com/yWuSHhb2FH
— Stuart (@StuartGatelan) July 13, 2017