Germany are the new European Under-21 champions after they defeated a suspension ravaged England 4 – 0 in the final in Sweden.

Germany went ahead in the match on 23 minutes when Mesut Ozil beat Martin Cranie and sought out Gonzalo Castro, who slotted home.

Three minutes after the break, goalkeeper Scott Loach, standing in for the suspended Joe Hart, made a horrible mistake as he misjudged Ozil’s free-kick and palmed the ball into the net.

England desperately tried to find a way back and went close when Lee Cattermole hit the bar but Germany were not to be denied and as England chased the game, Sandro Wagner collected man of the match Ozil’s pass and fired through Loach’s legs. Wanger added a fourth as he curled a sublime effort around the England goalkeeper with four minutes remaining.

In the end, it was England’s lack of fire power which hamstrung Stuart Pearce’s side with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fraizer Campbell both watching on from the stands.

Despite the loss, Pearce has agreed a new 2 year contract with the English FA.

Lotto have always been something of a fringe brand for me. Whilst they’ve always provided boots and kits to teams like as substantial as Juventus to as local as Sheffield Wednesday, I’ve never been massively bombarded by their presence in the market.

They’re a manufacturer that for 3 decades has thrived on the South American and Eastern European market - making boots that simply ‘get the job done’, without flaunting any sophistication, and along the have probably won over a few fans in other markets in the same way a brand like Mizuno has.

So, over the past couple of weeks, I’m sure I’m not the only Footy Boots fan who’s been left in shock by Lotto’s aggressive presence on this summer’s release list.

Lotto Zhero Gravity Tre

The first announcement was the Zhero Gravity Tre - Lotto’s most expensive model.

Billed as an opposition to the Nike Mercurial Vapor and F50i lines, the Zhero Gravity range is, first and foremost, a speed boot. Now in it’s 3rd incarnation (hence the ‘Tre’) the Zhero is designed to get you to the ball first using a mixture of high-tech materials, superior fit and comfort. All this plus classic Italian styling for £140, which when compared to the Superfly or Vapor IV SL’s, is a pretty tidy sum.

So - with the Zhero now settled in, and having won over enough fans to keep the Zhero Gravity line worth producing for three years I was somewhat hoping that the next release in the ‘collection’ would come in the form of another market challenging boot. I’m not a necessarily a massive advocate of adding gimmicks to boots but it’s great to see another company’s take on idea - like when Nike added Predator-esque rubber vamps to it’s Total 90 range.

Instead, I’m pretty sure Lotto have actually released the same boot 3 times. I’m all for classic styling and love boots with a touch of hertitage about them like the Tiempo Legend and adiPure, but in my opinion Lotto my have gone a little overboard with the Evolution Tre, Legganda Tre and Stadio Fuoriclasse.

Lotto Zhero Evolution Tre

At first I thought that one of the three might be a ‘premium’ version of the other boots, but all are due to retail at nearly the same price! All share the Puntoflex technology, shock absorbing heel and 2 of the 3 have the Twistn’go stud at the front, so I’m puzzled as to why, instead of spending 3 lots of money on designing, producing, distributing and promoting 3 different boots, Lotto simply didn’t select the best bits from the Evolution, Legganda and Stadio and produce one boot at a lower price and pass the saving onto the buyer!

To me it would have made far more sense to release one boot that was a combination of the Evolution and Legganda, and then introduce the boot with a leather upper later down the line to replace the Stadio.

Lotto Zhero Leggenda Tre

Do you agree, or do you think it’s the releasing of boots in different colours and uppers that pushes the price of boots up? Do you think that realising multiple boots like this helps put the brand’s name out there? Or maybe you don’t care because you’d opt for the Vento Diablo KL Due (arguably the best value boot on the market and a definite favourite in the Footy Boots office?)

Lotto Vento Diablo KL Due

Drop a comment below and tell us! And, if you’ve tried out the various Lotto boots as mentioned above, let us know if you’ve found any subtle differences that we should be aware of.

Umbro and Manchester City have come up with a unique idea to get fans to buy their new kit.

SportCity, home of The City of Manchester Stadium will play host to an incredible night of Manchester music on Friday July 17th as Doves headline an exclusive free gig for 2,500 fans and their best friends who purchase the new Manchester City home shirt.

Man City fans - Doves

“Live from City”, an event jointly hosted by Manchester City and Umbro, the club’s new sportswear partner, will bring together some of Manchester’s finest music acts who are also great supporters of the club. The line-up features:

• Doves
• Mike Pickering – legendary Hacienda DJ and lifelong City fan
• Twisted Wheel – supported Oasis at their Heaton Park gigs
• Kid British - hotly tipped breakout act and their new single was BBC Radio 1’s ‘Record of the Week’ on the Scott Mills show
• The Answering Machine – recently toured with The Manic Street Preachers

Also joining them will be young musical talent from Manchester City’s Kickz programme which offers kids from 12-18 years the chance to be part of positive activity.  And of course, no City gig would be complete without the MCFC Big Band.

Not only are City buying on-pitch talent but they invest in off-pitch talent as well

The first 2,500 people to pre-order the shirts from the club shops or club web site will have the chance to request a pair of free tickets to this one off event. Those fans who pre order will receive their shirts on the morning of the 17th July,

Jimi Goodwin, lead singer of Doves said:

It is a great honour to be asked to headline this event. I’ve been a City supporter all my life, so playing to a crowd of 5,000 people with the City of Manchester Stadium in the background is going to be an amazing experience.

The new 2009/10 season Fulham home shirt, made by Nike, has been revealed officially. Excellent quality in 100% polyester, the new white shirt, which features the return of black on stylish new shoulder panels, is available with both short sleeves and long sleeves.

Made from Nike Sphere Dry fabric, the shirt is designed to keep you dry by drawing sweat away from the skin. The Dri-Fit mesh allows for optimum ventilation and also helps move moisture away from the body.

Furthermore, Watford FC unveiled their new 09/10 kits made by Joma after 55% of supporters voted for the Hornets to play in an all black strip on the road next season.

The all white strip option came second in the vote with 28% with the blue kit back in third with 17%.

With new kit manufacturers Joma and new shirt sponsors Evolution HDTV, the striking black kit with yellow trim and side panels is sure to be a hit with Watford supporters.

Following supporters’ decision to go with the black shorts in the home kit and the all black away kit, there will be a need for an extra change of shorts for a few away games next season when the home opponents wear black.

On these occasions the Hornets will wear red shorts which although not chosen in the vote we know will still be popular with a lot of fans!

The new Joma training wear range will be available shortly from the online shop and in the club store.

Arsenal’s bid to lure Felipe Melo to the Emirates Stadium has won the backing of their former midfielder Gilberto Silva.

Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva celebrate Brazil’s Confederations Cup victory

Silva, who left Arsenal for Panathinaikos last summer, has spent the last few weeks playing alongside the Fiorentina midfielder at the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Arsenal are reported to have made a substantial offer to the Italian side, despite the fact that Melo has played just one season for them after joining from Spanish side Almeria 12 months ago.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Silva said:

We heard rumours and he asked me. I said it’s a fantastic club and if he’s interested he should go without thinking.

He is exactly what they need - a powerful player with quality.

If they got him it would be great because he is a player they need at the moment.

I’m sure if they got him it would be a good signing. I have told him Arsenal is a great club and I am sure next season they will improve.

Felipe has shown in the national team that he has personality and quality.

England will be without their first choice goalkeeper when they take to the field against Germany in the final of the European Under-21 Championships.

A bid to have Joe Hart’s booking for unsporting behaviour from the semi final rescinded has failed and so having picked up a caution earlier in the tournament, the new Birmingham City shot-stopper will miss the final.

Hart’s second yellow card was issued during England’s dramatic penalty shoot out win over Sweden while his first caution came for time wasting during the opening group game against Finland.

Either Scott Loach or Joe Lewis will play in his place. Loach played against Germany in the group stage when boss Stuart Pearce rested several players.

While the arguments continue about the rights and wrongs of the British & Irish Lions rugby union tour to South Africa, the world of football has no such concerns at the end of a highly successful Confederations Cup tournament.

Fifa are trumpeting the 8 team event as a more than satisfactory warm-up event to next year’s World Cup finals, and certainly if the action next summer compares to what we’ve enjoyed over the past few weeks, then the 2010 World Cup will be one to remember.

First off, congratulations must go to the winners Brazil. In Sunday’s final they battled back from two goals down against the USA to take the trophy 3 – 2.

Playing in the Nike Superfly, Clint Dempsey (who has surely enhanced his reputation as a top level striker) put the USA ahead with Landon Donovan, in a classic pair of Nike Vapor IV’s, doubling their advantage before half time.

USA star Landon Donovan wears the Charcoal Vapor IV

But, just as he did last week, Brazil striker Luis Fabiano banged in a brace wearing his Nike Superfly’s ,Kaka had a goal wrongly disallowed before Lucio in the adidas Predator Powerserve headed the winner as time ran out.

With 5 goals in the competition, Fabiano won the adidas Golden Shoe for being the tournaments top scorer with team mate Kaka winning the adidas Golden Ball as best player.

One medal, two trophies. The tournaments best player Kaka revels in Brazil’s win at the Confederations Cup

In the preceding game to settle 3rd and 4th place, there were two goal heroes for both Spain and South Africa with the Spanish eventually winning 3 – 2 after extra time.

Nike look like they could have another big name player on their hands in Katlego Mphela. The South African substitute opened the scoring in the second half, lashing in a cross from Siphiwe Tshabalala

Two goals in as many minutes from Daniel Guiza in the Diadora LX – K-Pro looked to have won the game for the European Champions but Mphela had other ideas, as he rammed home an injury time free kick to force extra time.

A Spaniard with Italian flair - Daniel Guiza wears the Diadora LX K-Pro

But just as adidas provided the winner in the final, so it did hear with Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso converting a free kick in his adiPure II’s to give Spain the victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be a Real Madrid player in less than a week after the flying winger agreed six year deal.

His world record £80m move from Manchester United to the Spanish club is due to be completed on 1st July with the Portuguese international being introduced to the media on 6th July.

A statement on United’s web site confirmed that the deal had been finalized while the Madrid club’s web site stated:

The player will be tied to Real Madrid for the next six seasons.

He will be presented on 6th July at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo joined United in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon for £12.2m, but was strongly linked with a move to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2008.

United lodged a complaint with world governing body Fifa last June over what they believed was a deliberate attempt by Real to unsettle the winger.

After signing Kaka, Raul Albiol and now Ronaldo, new Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has spent £148 million so far this summer.

It was perhaps a little early to put these two heavyweights of the football boot world up against each other.

Despite a hugely successful launch, some wonderfully orchestrated adidas PR not to mention a few high profile goals from the likes of Lionel Messi (F30i) in the Champions League final and Jozy Altidore for the USA in their shock win against Spain at the Confederations Cup, the F50i was probably lacking from some game time.

The Mercurial Vapor V has been around for a few more months and that showed in the poll with the Nike product taking 2,682 votes (60%) with the F50i coming in with 1,778 votes (40%).

Aside from the voting itself, some of your comments proved interesting.

Of the themes discussed, a number of you stated that the Nike footwear caused blisters however others were of the opinion that the Vapor V offered a much more reliable and responsive touch.  Punters batting for the adidas product thought it was more robust and was better value for money.

Whatever your particular favourite, the debate certainly prompted a frenzy of action with 4,460 of you voting in just 7 days – a new Footy Boots record.

Watch out for our next vote and drop us a line below if you have a topic you’d like to suggest for our next debate.

After all the build up, all the intrigue and a game of cat and mouse that would have done Tom & Jerry proud, Footy Boots can at last reveal the Manchester United home kit for the 2009 / 2010 season.

In the centenary year for Old Trafford Nike designers have included several design features that pay homage to the side that first played at the Theatre of Dreams.

The new shirt features a large chevron across the chest, which echoes the same pattern United wore on their shirts during the 1909-10 season when Old Trafford first opened.  The distinctive angle of the chevron also directly replicates the one found at the bottom of the club crest containing United’s red devil.  The chevron augments the upper chest area of the shirt and Nike maintain that it gives United’s players an even bigger and more intimidating appearance.

The kit has certainly proved a hit with the players including Rio Ferdinand who said:

You feel very proud every time you put the United kit on. When I first signed that was the thing I was most looking forward to – putting it on and seeing how it felt. I was like an excited kid! I’m sure we’ll all be buzzing when we run out in the new kit next season.

Maintaining the traditions of the club is very important. Last season we had the blue kit to remember the European Cup winners of 1968 and this one dates back to the 1900s to celebrate 100 years of Old Trafford. This club has always taken pride in its history - it acts as an inspiration to all of us and it’s great to see it represented in the new kit.

The shirt also includes a number of other new elements.  The entire back of the shirt has an engineered mesh, which is a series of small chevrons, a performance feature to offer players even greater ventilation during games.

Inside the black round-neck collar is a high quality woven label with the three United colours, red, white and black, while engineered in to the side seam is a small label that reads ‘The Theatre of Dreams Since 1910.’

The shirt is made from Nike Dri-Fit fabric, which keeps players drier, cooler and lighter by drawing sweat from the body to the fabric’s surface, while its three-dimensional construction gives more air space around the skin to reduce clinging.

The home shorts are white with a red stripe along the side, a graphic of a red devil is on the back of the waist band and the draw cords feature MUFC on the tips. The socks are black with a red chevron on the calf.

The kit is available on pre-order now, can be purchased from Manchester United club shops from 16th July and will be worn on by the first team when they start their tour of Asia that commences on the same day.

So, what do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Dani Alves left South Africa’s players and a 60,000 Ellis Park crowd heart-broken as he fired Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup.

Alves, who was on as a sub in the semi final, was successful with an 88th minute free kick after Aaron Mokoena fouled Ramires.

Up to that point, Brazil were relatively unconvincing and the hosts had the best chances with Mokoena heading over from close range and Everton’s Steven Pienaar’s 25 yard strike forcing a save from Julio Cesar.

Kaka did curl a shot just wide for Brazil but it was at the other end where a goal looked more likely with Cesar again saving his side when Teko Modise’s deflected strike looked set to spin goalwards only for the keeper to palm the effort wide.

As the game went on, an upset looked more and more on the cards as the two teams battled for the right to play the USA in the final. As it was, Alves had the last word to leave the host nation and their passionate, noisy fans shattered.

The USA caused a major upset at the Confederations Cup when they beat Spain 2 – 0 to advance to the final.

Before Wednesday’s match, Spain had gone 35 matches unbeaten with the last 15 games all wins, a world record.

Anything else but victory for the European Champions looked unlikely, particularly as the USA had started the tournament with a 3 – 1 loss to Italy followed by a 3 -0 defeat to Brazil. But they reached the last four courtesy of a 3 – 0 win over Egypt.

The USA went close on a couple of occasions before taking the lead on 27 minutes. Jozy Altidore out muscled his new Villarreal team mate Jean Capdevila and shot home despite the best efforts of Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The goal was the first conceded by Spain in over 450 minutes of football.

Tim Howard was then forced in to a string of fine saves from Torres, Fabregas and Ramos  before the underdogs sprung forward for about the only time in the second half.

Landon Donovan rolled a ball across the 6 yard box and Clint Dempsey robbed Ramos to double his team’s advantage.

Wth a meeting against Brazil or South Africa in the final awaiting them, the USA team were thrilled at their achievement and coach Bob Bradley said:

It’s exciting, a great team effort. To beat an amazing team like Spain and make the final, it’s big.

We played as hard as we could and that’s what it took. Every guy contributed, so it’s a very good feeling.

One thing it’s difficult to accuse Simon Skirrow of is going with the flow. That’s why it should come as no surprise that the boss of Nomis, in these tough economic times, has hit upon a new way to sell his boots, making them cheaper and more appealing for the consumer.

Nomis boss Simon Skirrow

In the past Skirrow has been fiercely defensive of his marketing  strategy, mounting a passionate argument of why the company doesn’t employ big-name players to wear Nomis boots.

Now, he’s gone one step further – offering potential purchasers the chance of buying boots direct from the manufacturer, therefore cutting out the middle man and passing on the reduction in price.

Nomis Glove

The concept is called Nomis Direct and on his company web site, Skirrow has been outlining the thinking behind it. His statement reads:

Ever since I left the big sports brands to begin Nomis I have been determined to get the best quality football boots on your feet.

It’s why I remain deeply involved with the design and innovation process, why we’ve been twice rated Soccer International magazine’s football boot of the year and why we don’t pay famous athletes to wear them.

Because, ultimately, that’s what allows us to bring you the world’s best product at a price you can afford.

And now we are taking it one step further with Nomis Direct. Our new one-stop shop for buying Nomis football boots and trainers direct from the manufacturer.

As a father of three, I am well accustomed to the financial burden involved of buying new boots every season, especially in difficult financial times such as these. That’s why we at Nomis are making a true commitment to making your money go even further without compromising on any of our renowned product quality and performance, while guaranteeing you the most technological products on the market.

Skirrow is so confident in his boots performance that he promises a 30 day money back guarantee, no questions asked .

Typical savings on the Nomis site are £40 on the Glove and the Spark, £50 on the Flare and £65 on the Limited Edition NXGEN Spark.

Nomis NXGEN Spark

You can find out more at www.shopnomis-uk.com

Chelsea new home kit for 2009 / 2010 didn’t exactly get universal approval when it was released a few weeks ago so it’ll be interesting what fans make of the new away kit which was revealed today.

Made by adidas in Dark Navy and Neon Yellow, the shirt is now available for pre-order, goes on retail sale on 23rd July and will be worn by the Chelsea first team a day later when they meet AC  Milan.

Engineered mesh in the fabric on the front of the shirt, coupled with the 3D Formotion cut allows complete freedom of movement. Waffled Climacool fabric and mesh panelling across major sweat zones will increase comfort and ensure players remain cool and dry (unless they get a Norwegian ref again).

The shirt also has a new collar design tipped in neon yellow, giving a ‘v’ neck impression with the Chelsea lion printed on the back of the neck.

The short sleeved version will cost you £39.99 with outsize and long sleeved shirts coming in at £44.99.

Tottenham fans will remember all to well that 3 points were pretty hard to come by last season. So perhaps it’s a statement of intent by the London club that they’ve revealed 3 new kits for season 09 / 10 all at once.

The new home kit (as shown) comes with yellow ‘V type’ piping around the neck, a pattern that is repeated on the blue away strip. The club’s 3rd kit is an all yellow affair, though thankfully, way better than the now infamous Newcastle United effort for next season.

Made by Puma, the shirts all bear sponsor Mansion House’s name with the away and 3rd kits also featuring the wording in Chinese.

As for showing off the new kits, Spurs will wear the home kit during the Wembley Cup against Barcelona on 24th July with the 3rd kit also getting an outing in the tournament against Celtic two days later. Fans of the blue away kit will have to wait until early August when the Tottenham, players run out against Olympiakos at White Hart Lane.

As for purchase, the home kit goes on sale on 24th July with the away kit following on 8th August.

However, you can pre-order your favourite Tottenham kit right now, right here.

Pricewise, the home kit in a short sleeved version will set you back £39.99.