Sabathia and Lofton were on the last Cleveland playoff team, although Lofton left, played for eight other teams, and came back.
And what an anti-climax it will be for manager Hodgson and his players if England are left playing for nothing other than pride in their final group game in Belo Horizonte.
"No player would ever want to leave playing in the stadium for those fans.
Wilfried Zaha, not yet 21, helps his boyhood club, Crystal Palace, reach England's Premier League, and is leaving to play for Manchester United.
Both teams have since disbanded with a couple of players leaving competitive play for good.
Those teams with nothing left to play for didn't give heavy minutes to their most important players.
There are eight games left and we are four points behind with 24 points left to play for".
Defeat for Tottenham, in sixth, leaves them seven points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United with nine points left to play for.
[The lead is now two games, with just six games left to play for both clubs.] "You play to win," Bonds said, "that's why a professional plays.
Others have left to play for France, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Poland and Mali.
