Steven Gerrard Signs Up For New Star Sixes Tournament

 

Steven Gerrard and Robert Pires are among a number of ex-players who have signed up for a new Star Sixes indoor tournament in London next year. Carles Puyol, Michael Ballack and Deco have also signed up for the competition, which will feature national teams in four-day tournaments of 30-minute matches in a round-robin format leading to a final.

Brazil, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Italy, France, England, Portugal, Australia, Nigeria, the Netherlands and China will compete in the inaugural 12-team event at London's O2 Arena in July. Arenas in Berlin, Istanbul, Beijing, Sydney, Miami and Seattle are being lined up as potential hosts for future editions.

Pires said he was looking forward to the opportunity to pull on the blue shirt of France again. He said “I won 79 caps and everyone was a privilege and an honour so this is a very good opportunity to represent my country again, I think it will be really good to watch. The standard will be high and the competitiveness will be there but I think we're all probably quite pleased the games are 30 minutes and not 90.”