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Of all ridiculous statements I've heard from the British press this past week, this one takes the cake:
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Euro2000-New ball proves potent weapon
By Mitch Phillips
SPA, Belgium, June 14 (Reuters)(DS) - The ball being used at Euro 2000 moves more quickly through the air and travels further than other balls and has an exaggerated response to deflections, according to England assistant coach Les Reed. The ball has a liquid gel cushion under the surface wich the makers say allows it to snap it back into shape more quickly and behave in a truer fashion.
However, games so far suggest it is causing problems for
goalkeepers with its movement and speed off the foot.
Reed said on Wednesday that Luis Figo's spectacular
long-range goal for Portugal on Monday took only the slightest of deflections off the foot of England defender Tony Adams but flew off at an acute angle, leaving goalkeeper David Seaman helplessly wrongfooted. Seaman was also left flailing air in the second half when he failed to cut out a corner but coach Kevin Keegan defended him, saying the ball moved "all over the place".
Reed, who has a special responsibility for analysing
England's opponents, said the properties of the new ball were changing the way teams play. "It moves so quickly and seems to dip suddenly, so teams are now working on inswinging corners and free kicks," he said.
"Teams know that if someone can just get a touch it will fly in and that's very hard to defend. "It also seems to travel a long way. We've seen centre halves send headers huge distances while people are confident of sending passes half the length of the pitch. "It's definitely different but I think the players are getting used to it now." Adidas, the makers of the ball, were unavailable for comment.
It has become a trend for organisers to link with manufacturers to launch a new ball at major tournaments but the experiment has a mixed record of success.
The ball introduced at the 1978 World Cup appeared
impossible to keep down while the ball used at France 98 had similar problems and was blamed for the lack of long range goals and goals from free-kicks.
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So let me get this straight: it was the BALL that beat England?! It had nothing to do with Figo blasting a ball on a line for 30 meters or for Rui Costa curling the ball around a hapless Scholes to Joao Pinto?
Idiots. Plain and simple.
FORCA PORTUGAL!
***************************************
Euro2000-New ball proves potent weapon
By Mitch Phillips
SPA, Belgium, June 14 (Reuters)(DS) - The ball being used at Euro 2000 moves more quickly through the air and travels further than other balls and has an exaggerated response to deflections, according to England assistant coach Les Reed. The ball has a liquid gel cushion under the surface wich the makers say allows it to snap it back into shape more quickly and behave in a truer fashion.
However, games so far suggest it is causing problems for
goalkeepers with its movement and speed off the foot.
Reed said on Wednesday that Luis Figo's spectacular
long-range goal for Portugal on Monday took only the slightest of deflections off the foot of England defender Tony Adams but flew off at an acute angle, leaving goalkeeper David Seaman helplessly wrongfooted. Seaman was also left flailing air in the second half when he failed to cut out a corner but coach Kevin Keegan defended him, saying the ball moved "all over the place".
Reed, who has a special responsibility for analysing
England's opponents, said the properties of the new ball were changing the way teams play. "It moves so quickly and seems to dip suddenly, so teams are now working on inswinging corners and free kicks," he said.
"Teams know that if someone can just get a touch it will fly in and that's very hard to defend. "It also seems to travel a long way. We've seen centre halves send headers huge distances while people are confident of sending passes half the length of the pitch. "It's definitely different but I think the players are getting used to it now." Adidas, the makers of the ball, were unavailable for comment.
It has become a trend for organisers to link with manufacturers to launch a new ball at major tournaments but the experiment has a mixed record of success.
The ball introduced at the 1978 World Cup appeared
impossible to keep down while the ball used at France 98 had similar problems and was blamed for the lack of long range goals and goals from free-kicks.
*****************************************
So let me get this straight: it was the BALL that beat England?! It had nothing to do with Figo blasting a ball on a line for 30 meters or for Rui Costa curling the ball around a hapless Scholes to Joao Pinto?
Idiots. Plain and simple.
FORCA PORTUGAL!