Europe’s top footballers, who sadly don’t include any from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Republic of Ireland or England (cheers Steve) now know which ball they’ll be playing with at Euro 2008 should they qualify for the final.

It’s called the Adidas Europass Gloria and was unveiled by Adidas Chairman and CEO Herbert Hainer who presented it to Uefa President Michel Platini.

The suffix Gloria is surprisingly to all of us at Footy Boots not taken from Laura Brannigan’s platinum selling single from 1982 (shame that) but it instead stands for the fame and glory that will be enjoyed by the winner of the tournament.

In eight white circles, the national flags of Austria and Switzerland have been integrated into the silver ball design. The twelve black dots contain the Henri Delaunay Trophy as well as graphic designs typical of all the nations that have won the trophy since the European Football Championships began.

Like other leading Adidas balls, the Europass Gloria is is constructed out of 14 panels using revolutionary Thermal Bonding Technology. This combined with the new PSC-Texture surface structure gives it perfect handling characteristics and allows the players exceptional ball control. The unique outer skin improves power transmission, creates greater swerve and increases accuracy on the pitch, in all conceivable weather conditions.

Adidas has supplied tournament balls to Uefa and Fifa since 1970 and this year was the official ball manufacturer for the African Cup of Nations.

Rumours that the ball in 2018, should England win the right to host the World Cup, will be called the Tracey have so far been unsubstantiated.

It’s all go at Stamford Bridge.

Following their dramatic win over Liverpool to make the Champions League final and with the entire football world still in shock after seeing coach Avram Grant actually smile (he did, honest) the club, in association with kit sponsors Adidas, have revealed their new strip for next season.

The new replica Chelsea kit will be on sale by 8th May and the price remains as it was this season, £45 for adults and £35 for children.

The new shirt incorporates the following Adidas technologies:

ForMotion technology allows complete freedom of movement. Radical cuts and 3D designs follow the shape of your body to increase comfort and improve performance.

ClimaCool technology ensures body vapour is pushed out so the sweat, as moisture, doesn’t form. So you stay dry, comfortable and performing at your peak.

However, the revolutionary Drogba stay-up-ability kit has been shelved after his man of the match performance against Liverpool earlier this week.

It’s the second major announcement Adidas have made involving the London club in the last few days. A little over a week ago, they signed a huge new deal with goal keeper Petr Cech which, amonst other things, will see him abandon his protective helmet made by Canterbury in place of newly designed head gear from Adidas.

You can find out more about Adidas and their links to Chelsea at www.adidas.com/chelseafc

They’re a busy old lot at Anfield.

Not content with preparing for their weekend trip to Birmingham then the Champions League semi final second leg against Chelsea, their top players, in association with official sponsor and sportswear supplier Adidas, have found the time to reveal the new club home strip for next season.

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The new stylish kit is in classic Liverpool red. An embroidered Liver Bird is positioned on the back of the shirt and the inner neck of the shirt has a red chequered area inspired by the flags of The Kop. The shirt also carries a “This is Anfield” inscription, inspired by the famous Anfield sign.

The new shirt collar is ribbed with a v-neck which has always been well received on shirts from the past.

As always for Adidas, technology is at the forefront of the kit design. The shirt incorporates the world-renowned ClimaCool™ and ForMotion™ technologies which allow heat and sweat to escape and giving the athlete the freedom and movement to perform.

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Hot on the heels of the story we ran earlier this week on Footy Boots about Obafemi Martins allegedly switching from Nike to Adidas in a deal worth £1.7 per year, there’s news today that the Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has signed a multi million pound contract of his own with the German brand.

Cech, who kept a clean sheet against Liverpool in midweek in the Champions League semi final 1st leg, has put pen to paper on a deal worth £17.5 million over the next 5 years.

Cech will play wearing Predator Powerswerve Absolute boots and also Response Pro gloves specially embroided with his name. Adidas have also developed a protective padded helmet. Cech has been wearing a Canterbury made helmet since his horrific collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt back in 2006 which left him requiring emergency surgery.

How that will affect Puma remains to be seen. They were always unhappy when Cech wore the Canterbury head gear when playing for the Czech national side which they sponsor. An Adidas version probably won’t improve their mood.

In addition to the Adidas deal, Cech has signed a one year extension to his existing deal with Samsung. As well as appearing in a campaign in his home country, he will also feature in an additional European TV and print advert, with three other Chelsea players for the Samsung 650 LCD TV. The commercial was filmed in March.

Earlier this month, it looked like Cech’s season was over when he received another bad injury during training. Defender Tal Ben-Haim accidentally caught him in the face and the resulting wound required 50 stitches. But the 25 year old made a dramatic recovery and was back in-between the sticks just a week later.

At Anfield on Tuesday, he produced 2 top quality saves to deny Fernando Torres, the second coming late in the game, moments before Chelsea scored their dramatic equalizer.

This weekend, it’s another big game for Cech and his team mates as they face Premier League leaders Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in a match that will go a long way in deciding the fate of the title.

Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins might well be buying his team mates post training cuppas today. That is, if a story in today’s Sun newspaper in the UK turns out to be true.

It’s reported that the Newcastle United striker, who’s banged in 9 goals this season, just 3 behind leading scorer Michael Owen, is about to be rewarded with a huge contract from Adidas.

According to the story, Martins, who currently wears the Nike MV III’s , is in line to earn £1.7 million a year from the new Adidas deal. This would make it the richest ever boot contract for an African player, dwarfing the agreements of the likes of Didier Drobga, Samuel Eto’o, Michael Essien and the current African player of the year, Mali and Seville’s Freddy Kanoute.

The deal, if true, will surprise many in the industry as Martins’ English club side has struggled for much of the season whilst Nigeria aren’t exactly high profile at the moment after they endured a poor African Cup of Nations, going out in the quarter finals following a 2 – 1 loss to Ghana.

And so to our final new Adidas football boot that the company has unveiled ahead of the European Championships to be held this summer in Austria and Switzerland. You’ve already seen the Predator Power Swerve and the adiPure, so now it’s the turn of the F50.8 TUNiT.

The latest version of the football boot is made from a new synthetic upper, adiDot, which is dimpled to aid touch and control. The material repels water so the weight of the football boot does not increase in wet conditions. The football boot is also lighter than previous models yet stronger and more durable than traditional leather.

The F50 is the football boot of choice for flair players up and down the country – the world’s first modular football boot, allowing you to customise your football boots depending on your style and the pitch conditions.

The newly improved F50.8 TUNiT provides additional support and stability, and the chassis and sockliner now come separated, which allows players to insert their own orthopaedic sockliners for added comfort.

As promised on Footy Boots earlier, another sneak preview of the new Adidas football boots for Euro 2008. We’ve already released details of the new Predator Power Swerve, and here’s what the new adiPure looks like ahead of the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

The new football boot is made from 100% K-leather which moulds to the shape of your feet, making it one of the most comfortable boots on the market and it incorporates proven adidas technologies such as Traxion outsoles and an adiprene sockliner.

The football boot meets the demands of many football fans who have grown up with adidas’ football heritage, but now require a football boot which gives them the best advantage on the pitch.

Pure Technology explained:

New Last Offers a fantastic performance fit
Material 100% K-leather for glove like fit and offering excellent feel for the ball
Lightweight and breathable
3 Stripes Stitched in and embedded for a pure, handcrafted feel
Sockliner Premolded sockliner with adiprene® insert for additional comfort
Outsoles New full plate outsoles offering Traxion® technology
Heel lining Brown synthetic leather

Adidas have launched their latest campaign “DREAM BIG” where some of the world’s biggest football stars meet the world’s smallest football teams.

Rather than focusing on the big football superpowers for Euro 2008, adidas have decided to focus on some lesser known football teams with the notion that anyone can “Dream Big”, no matter what their ranking.

Kaká, Messi, Gerrard and Beckham are amongst the all-star group of footballers that were sent out, along with their football boots on missions to Andorra, San Marino and the Isles of Scilly (UK) to inspire and coach local teams.

A small number of young boys and girls in the three locations took part in what they thought was a straightforward documentary about football - and were totally unaware of the star players’ involvement. This surprise element led to some extraordinarily charming and real moments between players and kids.

San Marino - being one of the lowest-ranked national teams in Europe - receives specialist coaching and advice from stars such as Kaká, Xabi Alonso and Robin van Persie. The stars work side by side with the young players answering questions and passing on advice. What follows is an intimate, light-hearted and inspiring series of football films.

The second location in the series sees adidas stars sharing their knowledge in the world’s smallest football competition. Just two teams make up the Isles of Scilly league and the young players here could really use some outside help. Much to the surprise of the local residents the likes of, among others, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Patrick Vieira and Michael Ballack turn up to pass on tips to the islands’ youngsters.

In the third location, a team of talented juniors from Andorra set off on a road trip of a lifetime to the Spanish capital Madrid. Tickled by the idea of helping out the 179th ranked country in the world, Super Coach José Mourinho arrives for a special coaching session with the future of Andorran football, before sending the boys off on their journey. Along the way the boys are met by Lionel Messi, David Villa, Lukas Podolski and Arjen Robben.

“Dream Big” is what unites the staged players and the kids – both of them having big dreams, being united by their love for football. The campaign also further enhances adidas’ brand statement of ‘Impossible is Nothing’. Even if you come from a small place you can still dream of conquering the impossible.

F50 TUNiT Footballers
ANDORRA LOCATION

Lionel Messi, Lukas Podolski, David Villa, Arjen Robben, José Mourinho

Predator® Footballers
THE ISLES OF SCILLY LOCATION

Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Anderson, Michael Ballack, Patrick Vieira, Andriy Voronin, Daniele De Rossi.

adiPure Footballers
SAN MARINO LOCATION

Kaká, Robin van Persie, Yoann Gourcuff, Xabi Alonso, Philipp Lahm

See the video promo for the campaign.

In 1984, Cambridge United were awful. They set a league record of 33 matches without a win.

During this appalling run, they were losing at home, again, when one of the opposing players got injured. After a few minutes, it became clear that the injury was serious and a hush descended on the Abbey Stadium as the players looked on, shuffling their feet and just happy it wasn’t them lying on the ground.

After a couple of minutes, some wag (that’s joker not WAG) shouts out “Come on United, you’re terrible so don’t just stand there – practice!”

Players from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic will get a lot of time to do that this summer, in-between taking their partners to ridiculously expensive hotels in Dubai and shopping in LA.

But if you thought that their collective failure to qualify for Euro 2008 would result in a quiet tournament for the football boot manufacturers then you’d be quite wrong. It’s already hotting up and congratulations to Adidas for being the first company to contact Footy Boots with tournament information.

Adidas are releasing new colourways, especially for their players in Austria and Switzerland, of the PredatorPower Swerve, adiPure and F50.8 TUNiT. You’ll be able to see the adiPURE and TUNiT on Footy Boots tomorrow, but for now, feast your eyes on the Predator PowerSwerve. All the techy jargon follows too.

The new football boot features Predator SMART foam on the strike zone to give extra power, swerve and control - in rigorous testing the boot was found to give 3% more force and 8% more swerve than its predecessor. The foam also adapts and changes to suit the way you kick the ball so you get maximum velocity, or shock adsorption, depending on your needs.

The new dynamic PowerPulse insole also now features 40g of ‘Tungsten’ powder - which shifts and spreads weight in the sole to where you need it, behind the exact place of impact with the ball to get total weight transfer.

Each football boot comes with a ‘power’ and a lightweight insole so a simple swap allows the player to customise his/her game.

Nike have sued Adidas over a Chinese footballer’s endorsement contract in China.

Football boot brands Nike and Adidas have been in court battling over the contract of Zheng Zhi, the captain of China’s national football team and Charlton Athletic player.

Zheng Zhi

Zheng Zhi signed for Charlton from Shenzhen Ping’an on loan initially in December 2006 before making a brief return for Shenzhen Ping’an and then signing a permanent deal with Charlton in August 2007. In his home country, Zheng Zhi is considered the best Chinese player of his generation, making him a key target for Nike and Adidas to market their products in the country.

The argument between Nike and Adidas revolves around Zheng’s initial contract with Nike, which Nike feel was violated by the player and an approach from Adidas during the time when Zheng was contracted to Nike was immoral.

Nike Lawyer Fu Qiangguo:

Adidas contacted Zheng immorally though it knew clearly Zheng was sponsored by Nike. Adidas benefited the most from Zheng’s breach of contract. While Zheng, lured by the good pay Adidas offered, has also harmed Nike’s interest.

The Nike deal which expired at the end of last year, meant that Zheng would where Nike products whenever possible in public and that he would refrain from wearing other branded products.

Adidas approached Zheng in 2004 to become an ambassador for them, Zheng then asked Nike for an improved deal but it was allegedly refused. In court Nike used evidence to suggest Zheng wore Adidas products in 2005, which violated their agreement. Subsequently, Zheng asked to terminate his agreement with Nike and began promoting Adidas products.

Adidas responded to Nike’s concerns by stating that Zheng was not paid by Nike on time and that this broke their agreement. They also went on to state that the reason Zheng wore the Adidas products was, because he was at the time, on international duty and the national side is sponsored by Adidas.

The court have not yet reached a verdict on the matter.

Zheng Zhi wears the Adidas Predator Absolute football boots.

German sportswear giant Adidas has won its legal battle regarding its distinctive ‘three stripes’ and can now prevent other manufacturers from using similar designs on their products.

The European Court of Justice ruled that “the mere fact that the relevant section of the public establishes a link between the two is sufficient”.

It follows a case brought by Adidas in Holland against C&A, H&M, Marca Mode and Vendex.

“They’re trying to distinguish a distinctive logo, such as the Nike swoosh, against a non-distinctive brand such as three stripes,” said Gary Assim, head of intellectual property at Shoosmiths Solicitors.

“But the three stripes have built up distinctiveness. Its reputation spans 70-odd years, so it’s difficult not to associate three stripes with Adidas.”

Adidas welcomed the ruling and stressed that it was not trying to prevent all use of stripes.

Anne Putz from the company released an email statement which read; “We do not seek to prevent the use of decoration, but the use of striped markings that confuse consumers, or cause them to make a link with our company.”

The court confirmed that what was important was whether consumers associated another company’s clothing with the Adidas brand, not how similar the designs looked.

The move disappointed C&A who were less than happy with the verdict. They argued that a “decorative motif” like stripes is so commonly used that there should be a limit to Adidas’s trademark rights.

“Stripes are used a lot on sports clothing to give it a speedy character and also on more formal clothing, such as suits,” said Daan de Lange, a lawyer working in Amsterdam for Brinkhof, which represented C&A. The company argued that competitors must be allowed to use such stripes in a decorative manner, he said.

“The decision is rather disappointing,” said de Lange. “It is absolutely more favorable to Adidas than to the two- stripe manufacturers,” he said, referring to C&A and Hennes & Mauritz, which were selling sports clothing with double stripes.

Having secured the services of Perry Groves amongst some intense competition from a number of other football web sites including www.didntheusedtobeaginger.com and the ever poular and respected www.groveswasbetterthanronaldinho.co.uk, Perry has been on the training ground for his first Footy Boots video boot report.

Over the course of the next few weeks, the former Arsenal star and now Sky Sports pundit, will be testing various football boots including the SprintFit, AdiPure, Tiempo Legend II, V1.08, and Nomis Glove.

Umbro SX Valor 

This week, the 1987 League Cup winner has been trialling the Umbro SX Valor, as worn by Chelsea and England’s John Terry.

Our Perry might not be at his ‘spring chicken’ best any more (in fact it’s more like Kentucky Fried Chicken these days) but his football brain is still as sharp as ever. Find out what he made of the SX Valor by watching here.

As preparations continue for the Champions League final in Moscow on 21st May, Adidas and Uefa have released details of the new ball that the finalists will be playing with at the Luzhniki Stadium.

The official match ball has been cunningly called the ‘Adidas Finale Moscow’ and the design is based on the widely recognisable Uefa Champions league star ball logo.

Tied in with the Uefa campaign for the final in Moscow, the colours of the new match ball are dominated by dark red stars with golden detailing.

The Adidas designers took their inspiration in particular from the colours of the Red Square, the Kremlin and the gold domes of Moscow’s numerous cathedrals, so it’s probably a good job that the final isn’t being held in Milton Keynes. Just like for the ball for the 2007 Final, the “Finale Athens”, well-known colours and elements of the host city are incorporated in the design of the 2008 match ball, highlighting the standing of the most important game for European club teams.

Like the “Europass” (named after a student inter-railing monthly return ticket), the match ball for Euro 2008, the Adidas “Finale Moscow” features the new outer surface, PSC-Texture.

This new surface structure allows players to control and direct the ball perfectly in all weather conditions and guarantees optimum grip between ball and boot. In addition, like the “Europass”, the Adidas “Finale Moscow” is constructed out of 14 panels using revolutionary Thermal Bonding Technology.

Adidas have been supplying the official match balls to all Uefa and Fifa tournaments since 1970 and this year, was the official supplier to the African Cup of Nations organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

And the company says it is intent on unveiling more revolutionary ball innovations for future Uefa, Fifa and CAF competitions.

The Adidas “Finale Moscow” is already on sale at a cost of £75. Order yours NOW

David Beckham’s Gold Adidas Predator PowerSwerve Football Boots

So Beck’s was granted his 100th cap and as you would expect from the King of Bling when it comes to football boots, he strutted, well he cantered in a nice sparkling pair of Gold football boots, courtesy of Adidas.

Before the game, ardent football boot watchers may have felt deflated, Beckham was warming up at the Stade de France in white PowerSwerve football boots with gold trim - his run of the mill football boots from the DB collection.

But cometh the hour, cometh the photo opportunity!

Beckham certainly didn’t let us down, coming out for the match sporting an embroidered shirt with 100th cap on the chest and yes, sporting a pristine pair of Gold Boots. Golden boots for GoldenBalls.

Having checked with the Footy Boots head boot geek, we can confirm that Beckham’s Gold Boots are no different to his normal Predator PowerSwerves, that is of course apart from the colour. Adidas have made just two pairs of Beckham’s Gold Boots, with 100th cap embroidered on the tongue to commemorate his achievement.

Like Zidane’s football boots in the 2006 World Cup, Beckham’s Gold football boots will not be made available for sale by Adidas.