National coach Morten Olsen knows him better than most, having played alongside Heintze before his retirement as a player.

And, despite the international defender approaching his 39th birthday later this summer, Olsen has opted to keep faith with him.

He is the clear elder statesman and most experienced player in the defensive line-up.

Euro 2000 had looked to be his time to bow out from the sport but he just keeps on going and has provided the goods for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league.

Heintze is this World Cup's oldest player.

He is two weeks older than than Russian keeper Stanislav Cherchesov and a month more than England's David Seaman.