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.

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

The Adidas Wawa Aba football may be one of the major contributing factors for the flurry of goals we have seen so far at this year’s African Cup of Nations.

Already 54 goals have been scored following the conclusion of the second round of matches in the group stages, surpassing the number of goals scored at the same stage in the last four tournaments. At the 2006 tournament in Egypt, 33 goals were scored in the four groups after the second round of matches. The figure for the same stage at the 2004 tournament in Tunisia is 49 and that of the 2002 ACN in Mali is 15. So far in Ghana, 15 goals have been netted in Group A, 7 in Group B, 18 in Group C and 14 in group D.
Football analysts say the increasing number of goals may be a combination of more attacking play and the Adidas Wawa Aba football that is being used. The football is made of 14 panels produced with revolutionary thermo bonding technology. A thick inner layer enable perfect flight features enabling players to optimally control the ball and shoot with incredible power and precision.

Read article on the Adidas Wawa Aba

Uefa are to trial the use of two extra assistant referees in the penalty area at both free-kicks and corners as an alternative to goal line technology.

This article on Goal Line Technology is part 3 of the series of 4.

Part 1 - Goal Line Technology - The Technology

Part 2 - Goal Line Technology - Testing the Technology

Part 4 - Goal Line Technology - A Managers Perspective

The idea of Uefa boss Michel Platini is to be trialled at youth tournaments.

“The game’s a lot faster now, it’s hard to keep up with play all the time,” said Uefa spokesman William Gaillard.

The experiment will include using the assistants both behind the goal-line and inside the penalty box as extra eyes and ears for the referee.

“We have the go-ahead from the International FA Board to conduct trials on this and we believe it could work,” added Gaillard. “They would be just like the linesmen, talking to the ref through a radio system. Some people say it is better for them to stay behind the goal, others that it is better inside the penalty area so that things that go on like pulling and pushing are properly sanctioned.”

Footy Boots has recently run a mini series on Goal Line Technology, following the release of the new Adidas Teamgeist II intelligent football, which was trialled at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Certainly the debate over whether the ball has crossed the line or not is considered a huge talking point in football and a wrong decision which leads to a lost match can potentially relegate a football club, costing millions in lost revenue at the end of a season. Footy Boots believes even with the addition of more match officials, human error will still occur, so is it now time to take goal-line decisions out of the hands of officials and rely on more advanced technology?

This article on Goal Line Technology is part 3 of the series of 4.

Part 1 - Goal Line Technology - The Technology
Part 2 - Goal Line Technology - Testing the Technology

Part 4 - Goal Line Technology - A Managers Perspective

In the second instalment of our goal line technology series, we look at the roadtesting of the new intelligent football at the FIFA Club World Cup, in an attempt to bring about a solution to the age old debate of whether the ball has crossed the goal-line.

Part 1 - Goal Line Technology - The Technology

Part 3 - Goal Line Technology - Alternatives

Part 4 - Goal Line Technology - A Managers Perspective

New intelligent ball receives mixed response

The new Adidas Teamgeist II intelligent football has drawn a mixed response after being tested at the FIFA Club World Cup.

The football contains a microchip designed to alert the referee when it has crossed the goal-line, in an attempt to end goal-scoring disputes.

The system uses magnetic fields and a sensor attached to the inside of a football with a 12-point suspension system. Wires cut into the pitch around and behind the penalty area emit a magnetic field which, when data is fed to a central computer, can track the location of the ball and show whether a shot has crossed the line. An encrypted signal is sent to watches worn by the referee and match officials to indicate a goal.

A shot by Pachucha’s Gabriel Caballero in the Mexican teams’ 1-0 defeat to African champions Etoile Sportive du Sahel saw the system called into action for the first time.

However players and coaches are divided over the quality the ball, with a number questioning its trajectory.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said his players were generally pleased with the ball, although midfielder Clarence Seedorf said it was harder to control. “For various technical reasons we still have to get used to certain trajectories, but generally we are able to kick it well. This new ball is a little difficult to control, but when you hit it well it’s even more difficult for the keeper to grab it,” said the Dutch veteran.

Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo said one of his defenders, Hugo Ibarra, was not impressed. “Ibarra said that as he is not used to it, its trajectory changes,” Russo said. “If you use a new ball in such an important tournament, players have to put in a lot of effort to get used to it.”

The technology was first tested at the 2005 Under-17 World Cup, using radio transmissions to track the ball across the pitch, but was deemed inaccurate.

“It’s good. We did not notice any different particulars with regards to other Adidas balls,” said Ancelotti, whose team beat Boca 4-2 in the final. “It is has a good consistency and the trajectories are respected.”

Adidas’s reponse was to hail the new intelligent ball as a success. Adidas’s Head of FIFA Affairs Gunter Pfau commented: “Tests during the tournament’s opening matches show the system is working and football’s lawmakers must decide whether to approve the technology for wider use. Until now we are very satisfied. No ball was damaged, all the systems during the games worked and the players’ feedback here has been very positive.”

The International Football Association Board, which establishes the laws of football, says goal-line technology must be proven to be 100 percent accurate before its use in other tournaments, including the World Cup. Both companies declined to comment on the degree of accuracy shown by the tests.

Part 1 - Goal Line Technology - The Technology

Part 3 - Goal Line Technology - Alternatives

Part 4 - Goal Line Technology - A Managers Perspective

The new ‘Intelligent Football’

This article on Goal Line Technology is part 1 of the series of 4.

Part 2 - Goal Line Technology - Testing the Technology

Part 3 - Goal Line Technology - Alternatives

Part 4 - Goal Line Technology - A Managers Perspective

Ever since the ‘did it, didn’t it cross the line’ debate sparked by Geoff Hurst second ‘goal’ in the 1966 World Cup Final, the arguments for and against the introduction of goal line technology have rarely been out of the headlines.

In recent years, goal line technology would have not allowed the Bobby Zamora ‘goal’ against Blackburn last season which helped move West Ham off the bottom of the Premiership and may have in some small part contributed to them avoiding relegation.

On the other hand, goal line technology would have allowed Spurs Pedro Mendes’ 50 yard lob which calamity Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll clearly juggled a full metre over his own line in the Red Devils 0-0 draw in January 2005.

In an attempt to eliminate the debate surrounding whether the ball crossed the line or not, Adidas has launched the Teamgeist 2, a new intelligent ball, designed to assist the referee’s decision in determining when and if the ball has crossed the goal line. The intelligent ball has been tested at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, formerly the FIFA World Club Championships.

“The purpose of the Adidas intelligent ball and Goal Line Technology is to provide greater transparency during a match and to assist the referee in making quick decisions that can impact the outcome and quality of the game” said Hans-Peter Nuernberg, Senior Development Engineer, Adidas Innovation Team. “We expect the system to perform very well during the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan and we will continue to refine the system so that it is 100% accurate.”

The intelligent technology implemented in the Teamgeist II uses a magnetic field to provide real-time feedback to a central computer, which tracks the location of the ball on the field and sends the data directly to the referee. By using a magnetic field and more stabilized and robust components within the ball, the new system is more precise and is not influenced by in-game factors, adverse weather or nearby technical systems.

“With the complexities and precision needed for Goal Line Technology, it is imperative that the system is tested in a variety of competitive in-game situations,” said Christian Holzer, COO of Cairos technologies. “The opportunity to test the new technology during such a competitive tournament will supply us with the valuable feedback needed in order to continue refining the system.”

Since 2003, Adidas and Cairos in cooperation with FIFA, have developed the Goal Line Technology, which was first publicly tested in 2005 during the U-17 FIFA World Cu in Peru. The first system used radio transmissions to correspond with a central computer and a microchip suspended in the ball to determine its location on the field. The new Goal Line Technology and Adidas intelligent ball have been redeveloped since 2005 to address the critical situations in which better accuracy is needed.

Following the testing during the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, the results will be evaluated and next steps will be determined by Cairos technologies and Adidas as to when the system will be ready to test again publicly. The new system currently meets all International Football Association Board (IFAB) requirements and the ball has been approved by FIFA for competitive international play.

Goto; Part 2 - Goal Line Technology - Testing the Technology

Goto Part 3 - Goal Line Technology - Alternatives

Goto Part 4 - Goal Line Technology - A Managers Perspective

Introducing the new Puma V1.08 football

The Puma v.108 is the world‘s first intelligent football, helping players get to the goal faster!

Puma and UK-based material developers, d3o, have collaborated to develop a revolutionary new football. The v1.08 ball is designed for players seeking the perfect blend of soft-feel, precision, stability and speed. The patented 24-panel design reduces the internal radii variance for unsurpassed roundness and the unique dimple outer casing reduces drag for a superb aerodynamic performance. However, the most exciting development is hidden beneath the surface. Sandwiched between the outer casing and the inner woven textile backing is layer of the revolutionary new cushioning material, d3o.

“The new v1.08 Puma match ball takes you into the future of football technology with its reactive foam cushioning that makes it the world’s first intelligent ball,” said Filip Trulsson, Business Unit Manager, Teamsport, Puma. “The harder you kick it, the faster it flies. The softer you touch it, the softer it feels.”

Richard Palmer (Founder and CEO, d3o lab) comments: “d3o Lab is focused on creating intelligent products that enable the athlete to do what they do, to their absolute maximum. The new Puma ball is truly ground breaking in its use of d3o giving the player more control and more power, exactly when they need it. This is the most exciting project the d3o team have ever worked on and we can’t wait to see it out of the lab and into the back of the net!”

When applied to the new Puma ball, the d3o™ layer provides fascinating performance benefits. The material’s sensitivity to impact speed means that the Puma v1.08 ball displays “intelligent” behaviour. At low impact speeds (i.e. dribbling) the cushioning layer retains its soft feel, but when impacted at speed (i.e. a powerful shot on goal) the d3o molecules lock together instantaneously to increase the ball’s acceleration off the foot. In comparative tests by Sheffield Hallam University, at high impact speeds, the new Puma v1.08 leaves the foot 6% quicker than previous Puma balls and quicker than all other brands’ leading match balls.

The ball’s materials include the same 24-panel Concept 45 construction as used in its predecessor, the v1.06, for the roundest ball ever. Each panel has round edges and is pre-shaped to minimize tension and folds on the material when the ball is being inflated. Together with the new Dimple II CW-System, you can count on the truest flight ever.

As with Puma’s past technologies, the v1.08 ball features Perimeter Balance Technology to balance out the weight of the air valve and PAL – Puma Air Lock to ensure the best protection against air leakage.

The Puma v1.08 ball is currently being used by Puma national teams including World Champions Italy and Euro 2008 hosts Austria and Switzerland, with other national teams and professional clubs – such as Bundesliga Champions VfB Stuttgart and Lazio – featuring the football in the new year.

Price: £60
Size: 5
Colours: Lumina White/Dark Shadow/ Puma Red
Available: January 2008

Adidas Teamgeist 2 : FIFA Club World Cup Official Matchball

Football boot brand Adidas has launched the Adidas Teamgeist 2 matchball, an updated model of the Adidas Teamgeist, originally used at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The Adidas Teamgeist 2 debuts at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, running from December 7 to December 16, before officially launching in 2008. Formerly known as the FIFA World Club Championships, the competition attracts the continental champion club sides from around the globe and this year includes the likes of Champions League winners AC Milan and Copa Libertadores champions Boca Juniors.

The new 2008 Teamgeist comes in a white/red/black colour way to mirror that of the Adidas Predator football boot. The Teamgeist range of footballs are characterised by a 14-panel configuration reducing the amount of three-panel touch points by 60% and the total length of the panel lines by over 15%, forming a smooth and perfectly round exterior allowing players significant improvements in accuracy and control. The perfectly round, smooth surface react reliably and consistently when kicked. The name ‘Teamgeist’ is based on the single most decisive characteristic every team needs to have: team spirit.

The Adidas Teamgeist 2, features a new intelligent technology designed to assist the referee’s decision in determining when and if the ball has crossed the goal line, making it the most accurate football ever produced. The intelligent technology implemented in the Teamgeist 2 uses a magnetic field to provide real-time feedback to a central computer, which tracks the location of the ball on the field and sends the data directly to the referee. The trialling of the technology during the FIFA Club World Cup will allow Adidas to continue to refine the system until it is 100% accurate.

Adidas Europass - UEFA Euro 2008 Matchball

As revealed here yesterday on Footy Boots (Europass) the Adidas Europass has been unveiled as the matchball for the 2008 European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.

Adidas has been producing match balls since 1963 and believes after two years of extensive research and development, the Europass is the best football ever!

So how can a football’s quality be measured?

FIFA has designed a quality concept to guarantee the highest standard of balls for the best players in the world. Only after a series of stringent tests is a ball awarded the “FIFA Approved” hallmark.

The Adidas Innovation Team has rigorously tested the new Euro 2008 match ball, firstly under laboratory conditions, and later with professional football players and clubs on the field of play. Scientific tests were conducted in the Adidas football laboratory in Scheinfeld and also by the Sports Technology Research Group of the University of Loughborough, one of the leading institutions of its kind worldwide.

Tests confirmed that Adidas Europass does not only meet these “FIFA Approved” standards, it exceeds practically all of them.

Testing Procedure

The robotic leg: The Adidas football laboratory in Scheinfeld features a high-tech robotic leg which is used for a variety of ball tests. The machine is able to repeat an identical kick in the exact same angle and with exactly the same speed and power, time and time again. A high-speed camera is set up parallel to the impact to analyze the impact on the ball. The new 14-panel configuration, featuring fewer seams, makes the ball perform significantly more uniformly, no matter where the ball is hit.

Circumference test: A consistent circumference is important to allow optimal control during dribbling or driving a football. In order to calculate the average circumference, each individual match ball is measured at 10 different points.

The FIFA Approved Standard: 68.5 cm – 69.5 cm
The Adidas Europass: 69.0 cm – 69.25 cm

Permanent roundness test: Only a perfectly round ball allows a player to fully capitalize on his skills. The more perfect the sphere is, the more balanced a ball will be in flight, the higher will be its accuracy and the predictability of its flight. The panel shape harmonizes the energy displacement and minimizes the amount of corners, while the larger panels allow for a cleaner kicking area.

The diameter of the ball is measured in 16 different places, after which the average is calculated. The difference between the highest and the lowest diameter must be within very strict limits.

FIFA Approved Standard: max. 1.5% difference
The Adidas Europass: max. 1.0% difference

Water absorption test: A wet and heavy ball behaves quite differently from a dry one. It flies through the air more slowly, has a low bounce and is more difficult to curl. Adidas’ patented Thermal Bonding technology makes a football virtually waterproof. As a result the new Match Ball shows completely homogenous performance characteristics when playing in dry or wet conditions.

For the water absorption test, the ball is pressed and rotated in a container of water 250 times, after which the ball will be weighed. The water will also be weighed before and after the water uptake test.

FIFA Approved Standard: Water absorption - no more than 10% weight increase
The Adidas Europass: Water absorption - no more than 4.5 % weight increase

Perfect weight test (420 – 445 grams): Each professional game is played with a number of balls. These different balls all need to perform the same. Consistency in weight is crucial. If the ball is too light or too heavy, it might move unexpectedly in flight.

FIFA Approved Standard: Weight between 420 and 445 grams
The Adidas Europass : Weight between 441 and 444 grams

Shape & size retention test: During an average game the ball is kicked approximately 2,000 times. However, in the last minute of overtime, the ball needs to perform identically to the way it did in the first minute of the game.

In order to test the shape and size retention, the ball is fired against a steel plate 2,000 times at 50 km per hour for the FIFA Approved hallmark. After this test, only minimal changes in air pressure and roundness are allowed and the air valve and stitching must remain undamaged.

FIFA Approved Standard: 2,000 cycles at 50 km per hour
The Adidas Europass: 3,500 cycles at 50 km per hour

Drum test: The drum test was developed by Adidas to guarantee high quality and durability of the printed surface, the unique design and look of the ball. Using the ‘under glass print’ – where the design is printed on the under-side of the transparent surface material - in the construction of the Adidas Europass equips the ball with an exceptionally resistant surface material and ensures that it maintains its unique appearance for longer.

Uniform rebound test: Players need to be able to anticipate how the ball will respond in order to control a pass using their chest, thigh or foot.

For this test, the ball is dropped ten times onto a steel plate from a height of 2 meters. The difference between the highest and the lowest bounce must be no more than 10 cm.

FIFA Approved Standard: No more than 10 cm
The Adidas Europass: No more than 2 cm

Loss of pressure test: If the ball loses air during the game, it will be difficult to predict and may not respond consistently, making long passes and deep crosses almost impossible.

For this test, the ball is inflated fully and three days later its air pressure is measured. It must not have lost more than a specified percentage of its air.

FIFA Approved Standard: Loss of pressure max. 20%
The Adidas Europass: Loss of pressure max. 11%

These tests confirmed that the Adidas Europass is more round, precise and consistent than any top competitor match ball.

Click here for more details on the Adidas Europass

Adidas and UEFA have unveiled the ‘Europass’ as the official matchball for Euro 2008.

The Adidas ‘Europass’ was yesterday unveiled as the official matchball for next year’s Euro 2008 championships at the finals draw in Lucerne.

Background
The name “Europass” refers to the common “Euro” pass between the two host countries of Austria and Switzerland. It also represents every pass the players will make on the pitch during UEFA Euro 2008. Last but not least, it signifies the co-operation among all the fans who will make their way to Austria and Switzerland for the final competition.

The ‘Europass’ combines tradition with modernity. Its classic colouring - a white base colour with black dots – calls to mind the balls of bygone decades, yet its bonding with round dynamic elements in silver and red results in an innovative and very modern design. The national flags of both countries have also been integrated into the ball design, with eight circles in a subtle silver effect. The 12 black dots contain individual graphic elements developed by UEFA to accompany the Euro logo. These elements stand for passion, friendship, action, training, fans and the winning goal, which appear as watermarks in the black dots of the Adidas ‘Europass’.

Technical Details
The ball’s new surface structure, utilising existing Teamgeist technology, is constructed out of 14 panels using revolutionary thermal bonding technology, allowing players to control and direct it perfectly in all weather conditions. The revolutionary PSC- Texture consists of a sophisticated and extremely fine structure on the ball’s outer skin that guarantees optimum grip between football and football boot. The new ‘pimple’ effect helps enable truer flight, working on the same aerodynamic principles used in golf ball design. Players can benefit from improved power transmission, greater swerve and increased accuracy on the pitch. And for the goalkeeper too, providing a much better grip between glove and ball, substantially improves his catching of the ball.

In testing the ‘Europass’ football, the Adidas Innovation Team, has found that the new 14-panel configuration, featuring fewer seams, makes the ball perform significantly more uniformly, no matter where the ball is hit. Scientific tests also confirmed that ball is more round, precise and consistent than any top competitor match ball.

The Adidas ‘Europass’ football will retail from December 3rd, 2007 at a price of £75.

Nike’s Total Aerow Hi-Vis football is due to be used for the first time this weekend

The clocks have gone back, the days are shorter. That means that under normal circumstances, we would struggle to keep our eye on the football, right? No, thanks to the Nike High Vis ball we won’t need to get the night glasses out this winter…..

Nike Total Aerow Hi-Vis Football

The highlight of this weekends football extravaganza is not the top of the table clash between Arsenal and Manchester United, it’s the return of the High Visibility football.

The Nike Total Aerow Hi-Vis Football is due to feature in every English Premier League football match, Spanish Liga do Futbol Profesional and Italian Serie A game until February.

Nike have identified the colours that are most visible to the human eye, hi-vis yellow and floodlight purple. With names like that, just why didn’t anyone pick these colours before we ask?

Keepers beware, the Total 90 Aerow is set to be one of the fastest and most accurate balls ever made. A pattern of microscopic grooves etched in the ball’s casing assures accuracy and reduces deviation, whilst a high strength webbing support layer heightens durability.

You can buy Nike Footballs in the Footy Boots Shop

Nike has launched its new NikeFive range of football boots and apparel specific to the needs of the five-a-side game.

Five-a-side football is played on all kinds of surfaces, having its own skills and demands. Game space per player is four times smaller than 11-a-side, whilst game speed can be up to four times faster. Nike has developed a range of football boots and clothing to cater for the five-a-side game, allowing players to play with speed, flexibility and comfort.

Football Boots

The NikeFive football boot range includes both outdoor (Air Zoom Control II) and indoor (Air Zoom Control II Futsal) footwear to allow five-a-side footballers the best control at speed whilst providing maximum comfort and flexibility. The football boots are lightweight allowing for 360 degree ball touch and front to back flexibility when twisting and turning in limited pitch space.

Both football boots also offer outstanding traction to help players cope with the speed of five-a-side. The Air Zoom Control II, with front to back stud design, is ideal for outdoor surfaces and the Air Zoom Control II Futsal has a low-profile front to back suctioned sole for grip on indoor surfaces.

Ball

The Rolinho Principal Parquet is a laminate finished ball specifically designed for indoor tricks on parquet surfaces with a blue and white design providing optimum visual contrast indoors. The ball is smaller and slightly heavier than conventional 11-a-side balls with low bounce, encouraging higher skill levels and ball control.

Apparel

Nike has introduced NikeFive apparel, customised specifically for the intense five-a-side environment. The dri-fit fibres wipe away sweat from the skin, keeping the fabric lightweight and encouraging movement. The kit is available in a wide array of bright colours and graphics, helping to enhance visibility in fast tempo games. The sleeveless football shirts are reversible for colour adaptability.

Gloves

The NikeFive Futsal goal keeping glove incorporates abrasion-resistant padding on the side of the hand for protection on hard courts. The fingerless gloves are constructed with a 3 mm super soft latex palm with padded zones for enhanced grip and impact protection. Combined with a wraparound wristband, the gloves provide a secure, safe hands feel.

Nike spokesperson Leo Sandino Taylor commented: “Five-a-side is a fast paced game, in which events develop very quickly so it is important that players are given the best technology they need to perform. We feel the NikeFive range is ideal for the five-a-side footballer.”

Click here to buy NikeFive products in the Footy Boots Shop!

Adidas has unveiled the “wawa aba” as the official match ball for the 2008 African Cup of Nations

At the draw for the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana, football boot brand Adidas has unveiled the tournament’s official match ball, the “wawa aba”.

The Adidas “wawa aba” has been designed to combine tradition and innovation, and incorporates exceptionally strong colouring. The red/yellow/green colour way is derived from the national flag of the African Cup of Nations host nation, Ghana. The football also symbolises both historical and cultural elements of Africa. For the Akan culture originating from Western Africa, the name “wawa aba” is a symbol of persistence. People there particularly believe in the strength and team spirit of a community. The wawa aba is the seed of the wawa tree, one of the strongest and usable woods in Africa.

The ball is made of 14 panels produced with revolutionary thermo bonding technology. Its flight features have perfect characteristics which enable players to optimally control the ball and shoot with incredible precision.

Erich Stamminger, President and CEO of the Adidas brand commented: “In recent years, football in Africa experienced outstanding growth and the Africa Cup has become one of the most important continental championships worldwide. Therefore, we are pleased that the African Cup of Nations is now also played with a specially designed Adidas ball. This impressively underlines our position as the number one football brand on all continents.”

Adidas is the official match ball supplier for the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Adidas unveil the new UEFA Champions League ball, the Finale 7.

The draw for the UEFA Champions League 2007/2008 was revealed in Monaco yesterday (see groups below).

At the draw, Adidas and UEFA also unveiled the new official match ball for the UEFA Champions League 2007/2008 season, the “Finale 7”. (order now from the Footy Boots Shop)

The “Finale 7” balls for the 2007/2008 season are now being delivered to the qualifying clubs, ready for their home matches. That is all but AC Milan who will continue to play with the Adidas “Finale Athens” at all their home games in honour of the club’s achievement of winning the Champions League the previous season.

Finale 7 Champions League Ball

The Adidas “Finale 7” is based on the Adidas +Teamgeist technology, a 14-panel configuration. It reduces the number of three-panel touch points by 60% and the total length of panel lines by 15%.

This helps to create a perfectly round ball, allowing great accuracy and control for for the players. The combination of the revolutionary panel shape, a new carcass construction and the thermal bonding technology provide this Official Match Ball with the best performance qualities ever.

The design of the Adidas “Finale 7” is based on the widely recognisable UEFA Champions League star ball logo and is available in orange, white and black. You can order this now from the Footy Boots Shop)

The Results of the Draw

Group A
LIVERPOOL
Porto
Marseille
Besiktas
Group B
CHELSEA
Valencia
Schalke 04
Rosenborg
Group C
REAL MADRID
Werder Bremen
Lazio
Olympiakos
Group D
AC MILAN
Benfica
Celtic
Shakhtar Donetsk
Group E
BARCELONA
Lyon
Stuttgart
Rangers
Group F
MANCHESTER UNITED
Roma
Sporting Lisbon
Dynamo Kiev
Group G
INTER MILAN
PSV Eindhoven
CSKA Moscow
Fenerbahce
Group H
ARSENAL
Sevilla/AEK Athens
Steau Bucharest
Slavia Prague