This March 2014 file photo released by Portal da Copa, shows an aerial view of the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—With the FIFA World Cup already on the horizon, the three stripes are ready to wrap around the greatest sporting exhibition in the world.
Its official ball, social-savvy Brazuca, has made its December of 2013, five boots that the world’s best players have arrived one month before the first kick-off in Brazil happens.
Enclosed in a crate that holds the five boots, the adidas Battle Pack consists of the adizero f50 Messi, signature boot of four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, adizero f50, predator LZ, nitrocharge, and 11 pro.
“For Battle Pack, we wanted the boots to be highly visible on the pitch and stand out from the extreme range of color everyone expects to see in Brazil,” Markus Baumann, senior vice president for global football at adidas, said in a statement.
Shrouded in black-and-white that took its inspiration from the Mesopotamian culture, the five boots were built for ultimate comfort, speed, energy, and control.
Each boot has a dominant black-and-white pattern with golden stripes, only Messi’s boot has a blue coloring that took its cue from the Atomic Flea’s native country of Argentina.
At a 165 grams, the adizero f50 Messi is one of the lightest boots in football and designed for the boundless motor of the FC Barcelona’s all-time highest goal-scorer.
Forwards Arjen Robben, from the Netherlands and right-winger for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, Karim Benzema, center forward for Spanish giants Real Madrid and target man for France, and Luis Suarez, the Liverpool FC striker from Uruguay and reigning Premier League Golden Boot winner, are set to wear the adizero f50.
Designed for fast runs to the box, the f50 features Speedtraxion built for comfort, speed and control of the ball for evading defenders.
With two decades in its laces, the predator LZ is one of the most reliable cleats especially for attackers and playmakers and has appeared in every World Cup since 1994.
Fernando Torres, the Confederations Cup Golden Boot winner for defending champions Spain and one of the strikers for Chelsea, Oscar, the central attacking midfielder for host country Brazil and English giants Chelsea, Mesut Ozil, Arsenal’s central attacking midfielder and German international, are set to lace up the predator LZ which has “Lethal Zones” that would deliver precision passes and powerful strikes on goal.
A couple of Red Furies are set to lace up the “energy-retaining” nitrocharge built for engines who may not be on a mission to score some goals but are on the hunt for attackers looking to exploit the defense.
Dani Alves, FC Barcelona right back, and Jabi Martinez, central defender for Bayern Munich, would wear the nitrocharge to defend the Spanish crown in Brazil.
Acclaimed leaders are set to have the 11pro on their feet with Frank Lampard, central midfielder and vice-captain for Chelsea and England, and Philipp Lahm, the dynamic full back for Bayern Munich and Germany, stomping through Brazil with their versatility.
Built for versatility, the 11pro has micro-fiber PU that provides excellent fit, comfort, and performance for standing ground on defense and fast tackles.