The Jabulani Adidas Ball

I thought I would start a topic on the controversial Jabulani World Cup ball. It seems that many goalkeepers don't like it and Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar said "...It's like playing with a beach ball." Now, I have never personally used the ball but I hear it has uncontrollable swerve, bounce, swing and spin. I have heard it's frame is quite light so it is very hard to comprehend where it will go. So, to sum it all up, what do you all think about the Jabulani World Cup ball?

The problem mostly exists on high altitude, which is an issue since in SA most games are played at high altitude. That said, every World Cup ball seems to be controversial, not worried myself.

Seems to be only the goalkeepers that are complaining!

I'm not getting myself worked up over it though. That said, it would be F***ing annoying if England were to go out to a ridiculous bounce or swerve!

Actually, Luis Fabiano said the same. As did Julio Baptista, Robinho and Giampaolo Pazzini.

Fabiano called it 'supernatural' in it's movement in the air.

its because its seamless, and perfectly 360 degrees round

 

If you're a good player, it doesn't matter where you play or what ball is used. 

Actually, Luis Fabiano said the same. As did Julio Baptista, Robinho...

Fabiano called it 'supernatural' in it's movement in the air.

Moaning Brazilians!

It's not just goalkeepers, many dutch players have complained about it too a few weeks ago.

If you're a good player, it doesn't matter where you play or what ball is used.  

That's not true, not if a ball has unnatural movement like this one does at high altitude. It could make the difference between scoring a goal or not, winning a game or not, winning the tournament or not.

That said, we could see many shots from distance. Sneijder at least said because of it's unnatural movement long distance shots will prove to be more effective.

Didn't Xabi and Navas say something about it, too?

Couldn't Adidas just make a simple ball? It had to be perfectly round and stuff. It will be used only in the WC, anyway.

Atleast we will see some great goals..perfect i would say

The problem mostly exists on high altitude, which is an issue since in SA most games are played at high altitude. that said, every World Cup ball seems to be controversial, not worried myself.

Exactly, I've heard this so many times and there seems to be complaints about the ball before every World Cup. I remember the one in USA, there were some sh*t corners and free kicks in the warm up matches so everyone started bitching about the ball.

I was a bit concerned when I heard that the ball for the final would be gold but it appears it will only be the pattern that's gold :
http://www.soccerballworld.com/HistoryWCBalls.htm

I have this ball, and I can assure you it is a fantastic little thing.

It's relatively light, so feels like you could kick it at 150mph. It's perfectly round. Won't split at the seams, because it has none - thermal bonding

It's also extremely durable, easy to control, and flies true.

I have this ball, and I can assure you it is a fantastic little thing.

It's relatively light, so feels like you could kick it at 150mph. It's perfectly round. Won't split at the seams, because it has none - thermal bonding

It's also extremely durable, easy to control, and flies true.

Difference being the ball you get from a sports shop is different to the official one, the official one would cost more to buy and probably cause the same problems, just not to the degree they are suffering at the high altitude.

I have this ball, and I can assure you it is a fantastic little thing.

It's relatively light, so feels like you could kick it at 150mph. It's perfectly round. Won't split at the seams, because it has none - thermal bonding

It's also extremely durable, easy to control, and flies true.

is it the £79.99 one you have?

It's not just goalkeepers, many dutch players have complained about it too a few weeks ago.

That's not true, not if a ball has unnatural movement like this one does at high altitude. It could make the difference between scoring a goal or not, winning a game or not, winning the tournament or not.

That said, we could see many shots from distance. Sneijder at least said because of it's unnatural movement long distance shots will prove to be more effective.

I know, I was just messing

I know, I was just messing

My bad! The internets can be deceiving like that

Last year, a brazilian sports tv show had Petkovic to test the ball, even before all this controversy, and he said similar things to those who are complaining now. Pet is a Serbian player, a Flamengo legend, one of the best free kick takers I ever saw, also famous for his corner kicks goals (for which he holds a world record), so I respect his opinion.

VÍDEO Petkovic testa a bola oficial da Copa do Mundo de 2010.mp4

But its the same every World Cup, its just a case of players getting used to it. And keepers will always complain, the balls are made for strikers not them

In his native country he's widely known under the nickname Rambo while in Brazil he often goes by Pet

2 very contrasting names,

Everyone is in the same boat with these balls, every keeper will have to deal with the wicked swerve so it's not like it's favouring anyone.

There's controversy with every ball that is used in major competitions.

Everything evens itself out in any case.

It could be argued that better teams have more 'danger' with such a ball whilst it could be said that poorer teams have more of a chance through ricochets, bounces, deflections etc.

Well it sounds like it may be a bit of an issue with some players, and if everyone is singing the same tune then maybe there is something up. But, at the end of the day - every game will be played with the same kind of ball, so therefore no-one really should be able to complain. If one team scores some spectacular goal because of it, any other team will have the same ability to as well. So personally, i won't buy into any "it's the balls fault" talk. I think the class of the teams will still be what comes out on top, so whatever.

The ball looks kinda cool though doesn't it, like the design? Might get one to kick about over the summer/winter.

It will be used only in the WC, anyway.

Not true. The MLS and Clausura will be using it, too.

Yeah, MLS is using it already. Dunno if ive heard any rumblings of discontent in any games ive watched so far this season, but i haven't watched all that many to be fair.