Arsenal and German no. 1 goalkeeper Jens Lehmann doesn’t like the ball that will be used during World Cup 2006.

Although this could be good news for England, it is likely to have some impact on all of the goalkeepers, which could make for a more exciting spectacle this summer.

Lemann said of this new Adidas ball “It may be good for the outfield players and for the crowd, but not for the goalkeepers,when it rains, it’s going to be very uncomfortable for us. It gets very slippery and flutters in the air”.

The new Adidas +Teamgeist has been designed to improve accuracy and control. It is smoother, as it is made with just 14 panels, which is likely to be harder to catch for the goalkeepers. Every match ball for World Cup 2006 will be unique, carrying
the name of the stadium, the teams playing, the match date and the kick off time of each game.

The ball for the final will also be the +Teamgeist, but instead of being black and white with gold trim, it will be gold and white with black trim.

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