Madrid, Nov 30: Top soccer stars including Beckam and Zidane have tested the new type of ball for Euro 2004 championships.
The revolutionary new official match ball for UEFA Euro 2004 was unveiled in Portugal on Saturday (November 29), one day before the draw for the finals in Portugal.
To compete with the faster pace of the game and the increasingly sophisticated techniques of the world's top players, for the first time ever, the ball named 'Roteiro' - has been thermally bonded. David Beckham and fellow Real Madrid players Raul Gonzalez and Zinedine Zidane were among the players who tried the new ball. The England captain, a master at dead ball situations, approved the new ball. "It seems to be dipping a lot which is good for me and other freekick takers. But again is a new design, it is glued together instead of being sewn together which is a good idea to be honest because it gives the ball a whole new look and whole new feel. When your kicking it, it even sounds better. So, from what I can tell, it is going to be a great ball to play with," he said.


The ball contains an internal layer which is sewn together but there no external stitches. Durable moulded panels are stuck to the bladder to create a seamless ball, which provides consistent quality and a flawless round shape with a uniform circumference. In turn this provides a more consistent bounce and a ball that is much smoother and more predictable in contact.



When all of the panels are in the correct position, the ball is placed in a perfectly round bowl and the thermal bonding lasts just over 3 minutes. The heat causes a chemical reaction between the polyurethane, the panels and the carcass, solidly connecting all three elements.


Beckham's French teammate Zinedine Zidane, recognised as one of the world's most skilfull footballers, was also impressed by the new technology.

"There is no cut, I mean no sewing. In fact we have the impression there no corners. We have the impression to be hitting over a single surface," he said.


The ball is water resistant and suffers less abrasion at the panel edges allowing it to maintain its shape and performance over time.


The ball reflects the traditions of the Euro 2004 hosts Portugal. The Roteiro is named after the logbook used by Vasco da Gama, the famous Portuguese discoverer who found the route to India.


The unique and dynamic design features an aqua metallic base colour, which represents the sky, a blue globe colour reminiscent of the sea and represents the meridian lines, the silver lines signify the co-ordinate system used and perfected by the Portuguese.


Portugese international Rui Costa was delighted with the historical tribute to his country. "The ball was conceived with a design that brings back our past, remembering the time of the discoveries Dnew ball looks great. it represents portugal and the portuguese history, said the Milan midfiler.


"All this coming from a brand like Adidas leads me to expect that the ball would be appreciated by everybody and make a big success in Portugal," Rui Costa added.


Manufacturers claim the 440 grams 'Roteiro' is the most advanced ball ever made. German striker Michael Ballack was hoping all this technology would help him to score a lot of goals at Euro 2004.


"It's very important that a ball has the right weight, so it's not too light or too heavy, so that when taking a shot it goes exactly where you want it to go," said the Bayern Munich striker.


"For me as a player who is always looking for goals, of course it's important that the ball is fast, and handles well and i think it does that. To have ball control is always the most important thing. It's a good size, it's compact and yes, all we need to do now is score," Ballack added.


Beckham agreed and anticipated goalkeepers might have a nightmare when the 'Roteiro' kicks into action in the opening of Euro 2004, on June 12, 2004.

"In the championship, there will a lot orf great goals scored, you know, with the actual ball and the keepers will have a tough time."


Bureau Report