World Cup: Players trying to adjust to "beach ball"

¹²³ · May 31, 2010

Sometimes goalies find the need to criticize soccer balls that they believe don't give them a true reading off another player's foot. But it seems position players are also nearly unanimous in their opinion of the soccer ball being used in this year's World Cup. They seem to hate it equally.

"It's very weird," Brazil striker Luis Fabiano said. "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 goalie Julio Cesar called it "terrible" and Spain's Iker Casillas called it a "beach ball."

Italy's Giampaolo Pazzini said "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. It is especially bad for the goalkeepers if it means they concede a goal because they can't judge the trajectory."

Adidas, maker of the World Cup ball, rejects all criticism.

Spokesman Thomas van Schaik said the ball has been tests and it is "small and heavy, allowing for maximum accuracy, perfect grip and exceptionally stable flight."
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Colonel Ronan · May 31, 2010

My friend owns a replica and it's one of the best balls I've played with. Probably different with people who are professionals though.

¹²³ · May 31, 2010

Some journalists in Brazil say that the players opinion has a slightly influence depending of their sponsor.

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