Nike have offered the German football association (DFB) over £300 million to be the official sponsor of the German national side.

The eight year deal would see the German side switch from the German brand Adidas, to the American brand Nike (see Adidas Won’t Compete With Nike For Germany Deal).

Adidas has sponsored the German national team since the 1950s, when Adi Dassler helped Germany win the 1954 title with his revolutionary screw-in studs, so this would be a serious poke in the eye for Adidas.

Nike seem to be particularly determined to win this deal, as this offer is significantly more than Nike currently pay to sponsor the darlings of International football, Brazil.

It is further proof that Nike are backing up their comments late last year, which stated that Nike wish to be number 1 in football by the year 2010.

The deal is not complete as yet, as there is a legal battle going on. The DFB are in dispute with Adidas over the term of the current sponsorship deal. Adidas claim the agreement runs through to 2014, whereas the DFB claim the deal will end in 2010.

The FA Cup fifth round draw, didn’t pitch any of the ‘Big Guns’ together or away from home.

With the FA Cup being a major part of the BBC’s live football broadcasting schedule, they were disappointed with the Fifth Round Draw. None of the favourites were drawn together and the favourites were also selected to play at home.

BBC and Sky share the rights to broadcast the FA Cup games live. The BBC get first choice of the games, Sky get the second choice and then the BBC also get to choose games three and four.

The BBC are now appealing to the public to help them decide which games they should choose to broadcast (BBC appeal).

Manchester United V Reading and Arsenal or Bolton V Blackburn are the safe options, but what would you choose?

Wayne Rooney scored twice after being unleashed from the bench, as Manchester United beat Portsmouth 2 - 1.

Wayne Rooney’s opening strike against Portsmouth in the FA Cup, was crucial, his second was sublime.

In a game where the referee attempted to take centre stage by cancelling out two perfectly good goals for Manchester United, and Cristiano Ronaldo was rumoured to be at Real Madrid for a medical, it needed some magic to bring the attention back to football.

England’s finest player did just that!

His second goal was evidence that Rooney is capable of becoming the world’s greatest player. His second strike was a sublime lofted chip from 20 yards that left David James helpless.

The draw for the FA Cup 5th round takes place Monday 1330 GMT.

You can see the fixtures here, as soon as they are drawn.

Wayne Rooney Football Boots

Wayne Rooney wears Nike Total 90 Supremacy football boots.

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Michel Platini has been elected as President of UEFA.

OK, it may not be football boot news, but it’s important news none the less. Michel Platini has been handed UEFA’s biggest job as the president of UEFA.

The former France captain and manager, was elected to replace Lennart Johansson after a vote that took place in Dusseldorf, Germany. He received 27 votes, to 23, for Johansson, with two votes invalid.

Platini’s election will now see the Champions League format reviewed and it looks likely that there will be a limit on the number of Champions League places to three per country, rather than the current four.

He said: “This is just the beginning of an adventure. I’m happy to be able to represent European football. I’m very moved and very happy.”

Julio Baptista scored three times as Arsenal stormed back to draw 2-2 with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal worked back from 2-0 down at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, to come away with a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi final against rivals Tottenham.

Tottenham went one up with just 12 minutes on the clock when Dimitar Berbatov scored after a mix up between Manuel Almunia and Kolo Toure. Eight minutes later and the Brazilian Julio Baptista turned Tom Huddlestone’s free-kick into his own net, doubling the home side’s lead.

But ‘The Beast’ made up for the own goal by scoring twice in the second half, ending the game in a draw.

On loan from Real Madrid, Baptista has now scored 6 in the last two Carling Cup matches, form that looks likely to keep him in the Arsenal line up.

The second leg of this tie will be played at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday 31 January, and the winner will meet Chelsea in the final.

Julio Baptista Football Boots

The “Beast” Julio Baptista wears Nike Total 90 Supremacy football boots.

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Andriy Shevchenko scored two and made one assist to fire Chelsea into the Carling Cup final.

Andriy Shevchenko, Chelsea’s record signing ended his 10 match scoring drought, as the Premiership Champions won 4-0 in their semi final with Wycombe, sealing a 5-1 aggregate scoreline.

Shevchenko, netted in the 22nd and 43rd minutes in the second leg of the semifinal at Stamford Bridge, following the 1-1 draw at League Two club Wycombe. He then went on to set up Lampard in the 69th, with the England midfielder scoring his second goal in the 90th.

Substituted in the 84th minute, Shevchenko received a huge ovation from the crowd and shook hands with Mourinho, who was clearly impressed by the player’s performance.

Chelsea now face the winner of the Tottenham - Arsenal semi final. The final will be played on February 25th at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Andriy Shevchenko Football Boots

Shevchenko wears Reebok Pro Rage football boots.

He ended his contract with Mizuno in the summer and switched to wear the Reebok football boot.

Order the Pro Rage now from Reebok direct

View the Reebok Pro Rage article.

Nike complains about Umbro’s use of England players in the England Kit promotions.

Nike complained about the way Umbro had planned to use Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Robinson, who are all on Nike contracts, in promotional material to promote the new England shirt.

The FA were called upon to step in and resolve the issue as Umbro’s contract with the FA insists that England players must be available for use in groups of four or more.

During the photo sessions, Umbro cleverly arranged the players to conceal football boot logo’s and is such a way that individual players could be separated from the groups, to allow for easy use of a single player for promotion.

The FA stepped in to arrange a compromise and the New England Kit will launch as planned, on the 6th February, the day before the England friendly with Spain.

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UMBRO has launched the brand new England shirt and the England players were on the catwalk to model them.

Umbro today launched the new England shirt. The England kit features Umbro’s new ‘Control’ technology.

To be used for the first time in the friendly with Spain on Wednesday, the new England shirt features a highly advanced Climate Control Technology, incorporating a new and unique fabric called ‘Trilogy’.

‘Trilogy’ is a 3 stage thermodynamic performance material, tested at Loughborough University’s sport science department. This new fabric controls the microclimate between the skin and the fabric helping to regulate the body’s temperature.

Traditionally most sports fabrics attempt to manage solely moisture. Umbro’s new ‘Trilogy’ fabric now controls vapour, moisture and heat.

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New England Shirt - Trilogy

• 1st stage: Moisture vapour is produced before sweating. However cotton fibres in the ‘Trilogy’ fabric absorb this vapour which slows heat build up, allowing the skin to breathe naturally.
• 2nd stage: The body naturally creates sweat as a cooling system. The new ‘Trilogy’ material helps disperse moisture away from the skin, to the outer surface of the fabric with specially coated synthetic yarns.
• 3rd stage: Once hot the skin needs to be cooled. Special engineered ‘pores’ allow any excess body heat to escape through ventilation, which helps control your temperature.

The new design has strong visual dynamics with clever attention to detail. The red shoulder flash evokes the Cross of St. George, whilst the side panel incorporates the Three Lions as a graphic print. A holographic gold star is positioned centrally above the dominant England crest in reference to the World Cup victory of 1966. Modern construction techniques include laser cutting across the shoulder and thermal bonded cuffs increasing comfort levels for players and fans. The all important stamp of authenticity is embossed directly into the fabric.
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Van Persie is the latest in a long line of professional footballers to break a metatarsal. It is time for the football boots to be examined.

Robin Van Persie has been confirmed as breaking a metatarsal in his right foot and is forecast to be out for at least six weeks. Arsene Wenger said the striker had sustained the injury to the metatarsal in his goal celebration.

Thierry Henry said: “Robin’s injury is a massive blow. It seems that it is the injury that everybody is having - that metatarsal thing.”

So even Thierry Henry, a World Class professional footballer is bewildered by this injury… “That metatarsal thing.”

Metatarsal Injuries

By simply walking, your foot absorbs one and a half times your body’s weight. If your running, it is absorbing two, maybe three times the body’s weight. Jumping or twisting your foot whilst playing football can exert even more pressure on your foot, as much as times your body weight.

Metatarsal bones are the long bones in the front part of the foot, they are also the most common bone for stress fractures, simply because they bear so much of the body’s weight.

Football Boots - Metatarsal

There is no conclusive proof that links the metatarsal injury with the increase in footballer’s breaking their metatarsal bone, but experts have expressed their concerns.

Lightweight football boots, a quicker game and less giving pitches are often cited as attributing factors and perhaps it’s the combination of these factors which causes the injury.

We think it is time football officials conducted some research. Not just because the players are suffering, which in turn means that football fans miss seeing their best players. Also because it’s these same football boots which are sold to amateur players and kids, who are also damaging their feet. And, the ‘off the shelf’ football boot is more likely to cause injury as it has not been customised like the professional footballers boots.

Frank Lampard, the England and Chelsea midfielder was working with his sponsor Adidas on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard said of the new Adidas TechFit range:

“Well, it’s a new range which I’ve been wearing quite a lot in training and in certain games. It helps… it’s new I think to me the difference from any sort of undergarment I’ve worn before under my kit. It helps support your key muscles and stores energy, so it allows you to run with more power, be faster and for a longer period of time, which I think for any sportsman, that’s their main aim, especially in football these days.”

TechFit is a multi-sport garment and has been scientifically proven to enhance sporting performance, giving more strength, power and endurance. The technology supports key muscle groups and stores elastic energy to deliver explosive performance throughout athletic movement.

The Adidas innovation team claim that the power of TechFit apparel can enable an athlete who could sprint 100 metres in 10 seconds to run the same distance almost a metre quicker.

Andy Hunt was a Professional footballer for 10 years in England, we spoke football with Andy.

Andy Hunt played for Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and finally for Charlton Athletic Football Club, scoring 135 goals in 361 appearances for his respective teams. Including scoring at Wembley Stadium in West Bromwich Albion’s promotion season (1992/1993), plus finishing league top scorer in Charlton’s Division 1 Championship season (1999/2000).

Andy’s goal tally was 14 for Newcastle, 85 for WBA and 36 for Charlton Athletic.

Where were your first pair of football boots from?

My Mum bought me a pair of red football boots (can’t remember the brand). We had to pick them up from my house in the school bus with all the other players from the school team. I was a bit embarrassed because they were red. But we went straight to the game and I scored 13 goals so you don’t really get embarrassed after that.

Were you a boot boy?

No, I didn’t turn professional until I was 20, so I skipped that stage.

How important, during your career, was getting the right football boots?

It’s not vital, but it does help to have football boots that feel “right”. They have to be comfortable.

Did you turn any sponsorship deals away?

I had a few companies asking me to wear stuff for them. ASICS was one of them and they actually made good football boots. I wore their football boots for a while, but being sponsored didn’t concern me.

Pictures show you have worn Reebok, Umbro, Adidas and Nike, why so many?

All football boots (studs and moulds) feel different and I would wear the pair that felt right for me.

It didn’t matter if it was Adidas, Puma, Umbro, etc.

It’s harder to buy an old fashioned black boot these days, what do you think of colourful boots?

The only thing I can say about these football boots is you’d better be a good player, because you really stand out wearing these boots, and I’ve seen players get a lot of harassment and jibbing from the fans for wearing these football boots. Probably best left to the worlds best players I think.

What was your greatest moment as a footballer?

Scoring at Wembley in the Play Off Final for West Brom v Port Vale.

Also, although it wasn’t a “moment”, I am very proud of winning the Div 1 Championship with Charlton Athletic in 99/00 and becoming the league top scorer.

How was your relationship with your managers?

Generally very good. As I got older I was able to approach managers and discuss things with them about my game and what they expected of me. I played for a few very good managers/coaches and a few very bad ones but it’s always good to be able to talk to them outside of the training ground environment.

What was the best dressing room prank you can remember happening?

Nailing Steve Lillwalls ancient trainers to the dressing room floor.

At West Brom Steve was not known for dapper dress sense and his trainers were falling apart. At the time Steve was being courted by Liverpool (so the press led us to believe) and we kept telling him to buy a new pair of trainers to look the part.

In the end we nailed his trainers to the floor and the whole dressing room waited with anticipation as he grabbed the trainers, only to find them stuck to the ground. Our coach Keith Burkinshaw was not amused, although in the scheme of things it was a tame stunt.

Was there a drinking culture at any of your clubs?

Yes and I was a part of it. I never played a competitive game after drinking, but I did train many times with a hangover.

Have you considered getting back into football?

A few times. And I still consider it now. I own and manage a resort in Belize (www.belizejungledome.com) and have done a lot of management training.

Managing a football club appeals to my competitive spirit but on the other hand it’s such a difficult and thankless task that I don’t think it is tempting enough.

The problem is that everyone wants to win but only one team can win every year. Look at the aggravation Ferguson and Mourinho get if they lose a couple of games. And they are the best at their jobs.

Football is full of paradoxes. Although you can win, you just can’t win, because as the old saying goes, getting sacked is inevitable. I just don’t think I am cut out for this ultra competitive life. I am more attracted to youth football, or setting up an academy, which would be more fulfilling for me.

Would you like to get into football media?

I am. Read my blog: http://escribbler.blogspot.com/. The Guardian newspaper were taking feeds from my blog through theWorld Cup and lots of bloggers use some of my feeds and articles.

If you could rewind the clock, is there anything you’d do differently?

Avoided the Drinking Culture!

Andy now manages 2 websites for the Belize Jungle Dome including www.greendragonbelize.com and www.belizejungledome.com plus writing the Belize Jungle Dome Adventure Travel Blog and Escribbler Football, Sports and Travel Blog.

Reebok confirm that Thierry Henry does wear the Reebok Pro Rage.

Statement from Reebok

“The boots that Thierry Henry is currently wearing are Pro Rage football boots that have been slightly modified to Thierry’s specific individual requirements, as the majority of professional player’s boots are.

The retail football boot contains the same technologies as Thierry’s version, such as the external TPU heel counter cradle, griptonite and the same sole plate technology and is also worn by Andriy Shevchenko, Ryan Giggs and Iker Casillas.”

Our thanks to Reebok for clarifying the issue.

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View the Reebok Pro Rage article

Thierry Henry’s Black Reebok Pro Rage football boots are now on sale.

We have had so many questions about the Reebok Pro Rage that Thierry Henry wears, we thought you should know that the Black Pro Rage football boots that Henry has been sporting of late are now available for purchase.

If you want to get your hands on a pair, you can order them from Reebok directly.

Order now from Reebok

View a larger image of the Reebok Pro Rage black football boot.

We talk Football Boots with Richard Kuchinsky of hummel.

hummel launched details about their newest football boot last week, the Hummel 8.4 PIO FGX. hummel football boots are so different from the majority of football boots out there, we had to get in touch and find out what’s behind hummel. So we interviewed Richard Kuchinsky, Footwear Department Manager for hummel International.

What is your personal involvement in the hummel football boot collection?
As footwear Department Manager for hummel International, I am involved in all aspects of the product- collection planning and strategic direction, design, development, production and testing.

How did you become involved in football boot design?
Since joining hummel, football boot design has been one of my main focuses, as it is one of most important product categories for hummel. I have learned a lot of the specifics of football boot design while at hummel, working closely with some great professional athletes, and suppliers.

Do you play football yourself?
I did play in a ‘rec league’ when I was around 5, but not much since then! To be honest, it was too much running for me, at least at the time. I’m not active now in any organized football, but I do kick a ball around sometimes with friends, even if its just to get a feel for some new football boots we are working on.

How do hummel differentiate from other boot manufacturers?
hummel, I believe, has a unique approach to football boot design and marketing. Rather than focus, as many of the big brands do, on huge (and expensive) team and personal sponsorships, and try to sell boots by convincing you they are good because XXX plays in them. Instead, we focus on trying to make unique and innovative product that speaks for itself.
While other companies for the most part focus a lot on positioning their products by targeting different player positions, or compete by technical features (lighter, faster, etc.), the main focus of the hummel football collection is to create different boots for different types of characters and make boots that fit a player’s psychological and performance needs.
This ‘character concept’, expressed in our tagline “Jeg har Karakter” (”I have Character”, in Danish) is about recognizing that there are different types of personalities of players and each demands something different in design and features.
Many of these personality types are not addressed by other football boot companies, for example, the “Rock Star” kind of player who demands a unique fashion and lifestyle statement, without compromising performance and technical features.

From point of concept, how long does it take for a football boot to end up in a shop?
As we are very small company, with a lot of freedom in design and development, our product creation cycle is much shorter than most of the larger companies making football boots. Typically it is about 12-18 months from initial idea to the football boot being released for sale in a shop. This allows us to more quickly respond to market and player needs and bring more new product to market, faster.

How influenced are hummel in their boot developments by the success of other football boot manufacturers?
Of course we do look at all the companies in the market, both big and small, to be aware of what else is out there. From the point of influence or comparison, however, we really believe in going in our own direction, and if anything, sometimes do the opposite to what other brands do.
Now for example, you can see many companies are using synthetic leather in more top end football boots. hummel, however is making more and more leather boots and even releasing innovations in leather, such as our Pittards Goatskin leather boots which offer superior performance and quality to any synthetic on the market.

What else influences the design of a football boot?
Almost anything can inspire the design of a football boot. Our most recent top product, the 8.4 PIO FGX, for example, was inspired a lot by luxury fashion goods, Danish Modern furniture and graphic print wallpaper!

Do you think that bladed football boots play any part in the surge of metatarsal injuries to footballers?
The results of studies on this are so far not conclusive, but there is good information out there that this could be a potential risk. We have taken this into consideration to be on the safe side, and our newest outsole, the FGX as used on the 8.4 PIO FGX, features conical round studs in the pivot point area under the metatarsal specifically to help avoid injuries like the metatarsal.

What is your most successful development to a football boot?
For 2007, we have released an amazing new technology, hmlFIT Customized Fit Technology that I think will really make a big impact on the market.
This technology, as featured in the 8.4 PIO FGX, allows consumers to get a truly custom fit, like many professional players do. Using a special smart-foam material, the insole can be custom fit to a players foot using heat. Its quite simple to use (you put the sockliner in the oven at 100C for 2 min, then put it back into the football boot) and can make a big difference in feel and performance by maximizing surface contact between your foot and boot. Initial reactions to this technology, offered for the first time with a football boot available to the mass market, are so far spectacular!

Do you know of any football boot developments in the pipeline that will have a major impact on the evolution of the football boot?
The football market and consumers are always evolving, and its difficult to say what impact new developments will have. In my opinion, I think that today’s players are looking for more ways to express themselves and feel unique. This need is exactly what we at hummel hope to be able to satisfy, with football boots that provide an alternative to the “big brands” with our unique style, design, and technology targeting those unique characters.

How do hummel go about getting professionals to wear their football boots?
In some cases we may create a sponsorship deal, as we have now with Dennis Rommedahl.
In most cases, however, we simply make available great football boots and a player will choose them on their own with no incentive from hummel.
Even Rommedahl for example, he has been wearing hummel football boots for years with no endorsement deal, only because he liked the football boots. We’ve now signed him so we can also use him to be more involved in the development process.

Why does the 8.4 PIO FGX carry a bee monogram?
As mentioned, this football boot is all about the combination of design, lifestyle and technology. Its certainly not a football boot all players would wear, but for some special players, who have that unique character profile, someone that is looking for something different, to express their own personality, the 8.4 PIO FGX is it.
The monogram detailed, actually laser-etched into the Pittards WR Premiership Goatskin Leather upper brings an element of luxury and style to the boot. The monogram uses the hummel logos (Bee and Chevron designs) in a new way that reinforces that brand and creates a unique fusion of style with performance.

Richard writes an excellent blog, which documents the process and his involvement in the design and development of hummel football boots.

First Pullover - www.firstpullover.com
Hummel - www.hummel.dk