| Many players are criticizing the new World Cup ball, | | | | You jump up to head a cross and suddenly the ball will |
| with some comparing it to those bought at a | | | | move and you miss it", Pazzini said. "It is even worse |
| supermarket. And this time it's not only goalkeepers | | | | for the goalkeepers as they will concede a goal |
| who are complaining. Strikers, defenders and | | | | because they can't judge the trajectory". |
| midfielders are also lashing out at the Adidas ball just a | | | | Sportswear Company Adidas traditionally launches |
| few days before the month long tournament is to | | | | new balls for each World Cup and they usually cause |
| begin in South Africa. | | | | controversy because of the changes introduced by |
| Jabulani is the name of the ball, which means "to | | | | the new technology. Most of the changes make the |
| celebrate" in Zulu, but not many are celebrating it so | | | | ball become faster and goalkeepers are the ones |
| far. It's hard to find a player who is happy with it, and | | | | most affected by it. But this time the livelier ball is also |
| those who don't like it are not saving adjectives to | | | | causing problems to field players. |
| describe their feelings. | | | | Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas, also expressed his |
| When asked about the ball, Brazil striker Luis Fabiano | | | | anger at the design of the ball after the European |
| said; "It's very weird. All of a sudden it changes it's | | | | champion's 3-2 friendly win over Saudi Arabia on |
| trajectory on you. It's like it doesn't want to be kicked. | | | | Saturday. "It's sad that such an important competition |
| It's incredible, it's like someone is guiding it. You are | | | | like the World Cup has such an important element like |
| going to kick it and it moves out of the way. I think it's | | | | this ball of appalling condition," he said. |
| supernatural, it's very bad. I hope to adapt to it as soon | | | | According to Adidas the technology used on the |
| as possible, but it's going to be hard." | | | | Jabulani is "radically new". When it was launched in |
| During a press conference, Brazil goalkeeper Júlio | | | | December they claimed the ball would sail true |
| César who was the first to compare it to those | | | | because of small dots on the surface that would help |
| plastic balls bought in a supermarket, called the ball | | | | improve reliability in the air. Adidas said the ball would |
| "terrible", while Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini agreed | | | | have "an exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip |
| with him, calling it a "disaster". | | | | under all conditions". |
| "The ball swerves so much making it difficult to control. | | | | |