Keepers, players unhappy with new ball
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SOME World Cup-bound players have slammed the World Cup ball, with more than one comparing it to those bought at a supermarket.
And this time it's not only goalkeepers who are complaining. Strikers, defenders and midfielders are also lashing out at the Adidas ball just a few days before the monthlong tournament is to begin in South Africa.
The ball is called Jabulani, which means "to celebrate" in Zulu, but not many are celebrating it so far.
"It's very weird," Brazil striker Luis Fabiano said on Sunday.
"All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It's like it doesn't want to be kicked. It's incredible, it's like someone is guiding it. You are going to kick it and it moves out of the way. I think it's supernatural, it's very bad. I hope to adapt to it as soon as possible, but it's going to be hard."
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar on Saturday called the ball "terrible" and was the first to compare it to those plastic ones bought on a supermarket. Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini said the same thing, calling it a "disaster."
"It moves so much and makes it difficult to control. You jump up to head a cross and suddenly the ball will move and you miss it," Pazzini said.
"It is especially bad for the goalkeepers if it means they concede a goal because they can't judge the trajectory."
Adidas traditionally launches new balls for each World Cup. Most of the time the ball becomes speedier and goalkeepers are the ones most affected by it. But this time the livelier ball is causing problems to field players too.
"There is no way to hide it," Brazil midfielder Julio Baptista said.
"It's bad for the goalkeepers and it's bad for us. It's really bad. The players try to cross it and it goes to the opposite direction they intended it to go."
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas also expressed his anger at the design of the ball after the European champion's 3-2 friendly win over Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
"It's a bit like a beachball," the Spain captain said. "It's sad that such an important competition like the World Cup has such an important element like this ball of appalling condition."
Adidas said the technology on the Jabulani is "radically new," and when it launched the ball in December is said that it would sail true because small dots on the surface would help improve reliability in the air.
It said the ball would have "an exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions."
Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa, who wears Adidas gear, had a simple answer when asked about the ball: "It's round, like always."
"It happens every time, the players always complain about the ball," said former Brazil great Tostao.
"It used to be the goalkeepers only, but now we have the others complaining too. At the greatest competition in the world you would think that the players would like the ball, but that's not the case."
And this time it's not only goalkeepers who are complaining. Strikers, defenders and midfielders are also lashing out at the Adidas ball just a few days before the monthlong tournament is to begin in South Africa.
The ball is called Jabulani, which means "to celebrate" in Zulu, but not many are celebrating it so far.
"It's very weird," Brazil striker Luis Fabiano said on Sunday.
"All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It's like it doesn't want to be kicked. It's incredible, it's like someone is guiding it. You are going to kick it and it moves out of the way. I think it's supernatural, it's very bad. I hope to adapt to it as soon as possible, but it's going to be hard."
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar on Saturday called the ball "terrible" and was the first to compare it to those plastic ones bought on a supermarket. Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini said the same thing, calling it a "disaster."
"It moves so much and makes it difficult to control. You jump up to head a cross and suddenly the ball will move and you miss it," Pazzini said.
"It is especially bad for the goalkeepers if it means they concede a goal because they can't judge the trajectory."
Adidas traditionally launches new balls for each World Cup. Most of the time the ball becomes speedier and goalkeepers are the ones most affected by it. But this time the livelier ball is causing problems to field players too.
"There is no way to hide it," Brazil midfielder Julio Baptista said.
"It's bad for the goalkeepers and it's bad for us. It's really bad. The players try to cross it and it goes to the opposite direction they intended it to go."
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas also expressed his anger at the design of the ball after the European champion's 3-2 friendly win over Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
"It's a bit like a beachball," the Spain captain said. "It's sad that such an important competition like the World Cup has such an important element like this ball of appalling condition."
Adidas said the technology on the Jabulani is "radically new," and when it launched the ball in December is said that it would sail true because small dots on the surface would help improve reliability in the air.
It said the ball would have "an exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions."
Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa, who wears Adidas gear, had a simple answer when asked about the ball: "It's round, like always."
"It happens every time, the players always complain about the ball," said former Brazil great Tostao.
"It used to be the goalkeepers only, but now we have the others complaining too. At the greatest competition in the world you would think that the players would like the ball, but that's not the case."
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