CECH, BALLACK, VAN PERSIE AND CO GET SUPERSIZED

Adidas are bigging it up over in Austria & Switzerland.

With Euro 2008 kicking off tomorrow, Adidas have launched their latest marketing stunts in the hosting nations.

1. Zurich Station

Come out of Zurich station and you will be greeted by a huddle of 11 giant footballers;

Ballack and Lahm (both Germany), Van Persie (Netherlands), Cech (Czech Republic), Charisteas (Greece), Villa (Spain), Benzema and Vieira (both France), Chivu (Romania), Ivanschitz (Austria) and Barnetta (Switzerland).

Swiss locals are reported to be particularly pleased by the installation. Renowned for building the finest clocks and watches in the world, the Swiss locals will now be able to check the accuracy of their instruments at 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, daily. For not only do the players stand arm in arm and stand 17 metres high, they also cheer for each other at the top of their voices, in their own language twice a day.

2. Vienna Leisure Park, Prater

The Vienna Leisure Park’s ferris wheel now sports Petr Cech, supersized to 42 metres.

We think its overkill and that the Swiss would struggle to get past a ‘mini Cech’ in their opener tomorrow (SWITZERLAND v CZECH REPUBLIC).

3. MuseumsQuartier in Vienna

The final part of the Adidas Euro 2008 trilogy is also featured in Vienna, this time at the MuseumsQuartier. And what you may ask can Adidas plant at the cultural complex of Vienna? Why giant football boots of course, 16 in fact!

Adidas have designed an individual Euro 2008 football boot for each of the 16 participating nations featuring the different national colours, details and facts of the respective country. These 16 car sized models are on display in front of the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna.

Prior to their placement, the oversized football boots took a long journey on two Adidas trucks through both host countries, visiting the various national teams’ quarters. There, the individualised football boots were handed over to the players who will wear the shoes during Euro 2008.

When the truck got to Geneva, Portugal’s base, Cristiano Ronaldo immediately got on the phone to ask his agent if Nike could construct him a similar sized football boot to match his ego.