Edin Dzeko reflects on longevity as Bosnia prepare for World Cup return

Edin Dzeko says there is an end for everyone, but for now his focus is on captaining Bosnia and Herzegovina at only their second World Cup.

The 40-year-old says experience has become central to his longevity. He describes how, as a younger player, he did not value the extra work before and after training, but now spends significant time on prevention and recovery to keep his body ready for competition.

Dzeko said he did not expect to still be playing at 40, but believes he can still help his team. He pointed to his last four months at Schalke and with the national team as proof that he still feels good physically.

After a difficult six months at Fiorentina, Dzeko joined Schalke in January until the end of the season. He quickly made an impact, scoring on his debut and finishing with six goals as the club returned to the Bundesliga after three years away.

That spell also helped prepare him for Bosnia and Herzegovina's World Cup playoff campaign. His headed equaliser against Wales in Cardiff helped put the team on course, and a few days later Bosnia beat Italy on penalties in Zenica to secure qualification.

Dzeko said Bosnia's performance was overlooked because of the attention given to Italy's failure and discussion of the stadium in Zenica. He described Bosnia as an excellent team with many young players who proved their value in the win over Italy.

His first World Cup came in Brazil in 2014, when Bosnia and Herzegovina played Argentina in Rio de Janeiro and were later eliminated after the group stage. Dzeko said he wished he had enjoyed the tournament more, though he called playing in Brazil a special experience.

This summer, Bosnia and Herzegovina are in Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. Dzeko said Switzerland are the favourites in the group because of their experience and regular presence at major tournaments.

For now, Dzeko wants to enjoy the tournament and postpone questions about retirement or his club future. He said he must first speak with Schalke about their plans before deciding what comes next.