World Cup ball set to cause big problems for Ronaldo, Messi, others

12.06.2018 22:09

- The official match ball for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia, Telstar 18, is expected to help checkmate dip and swerve from player’s shots

- Top stars like of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, among others free-kick specialists will not take advantage of shot-stoppers

- And the goalkeepers will be loving life if ball moves less in the air at Russia 2018 World Cup

The official match ball for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia, Telstar 18, is expected to help checkmate dip and swerve from player’s shots during the mundial.

According to a UK Sun report, Adidas, the renowned sports kits manufacturers’ at BOFFINS are eager to stop the like of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Brazil's Neymar among others free-kick specialists from not taking advantage of shot-stoppers during the global football showpiece.

At the last count, Adidas splashed out millions of pounds in three years since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to create Telstar 18.

The main objective, was to ensure the success of the project as they wanted to ‘create’ one of the best equipment ever put to use in the modern game.

“That should help goalkeepers in Russia, as well as making it harder for players like Ronaldo to produce the famous ‘knuckle-ball’ free-kicks he has perfected,” the report stated.

Explaining further, the Germany-based firm revealed that the match balls will always move as directed due to a ‘special material’ employed in the production.

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“Known as carcass that thickness of the carcass — meaning it should fly true through the air when it is struck on the sweet spot,” Adidas added.

In addition, the Telstar 18, otherwise known as the official match ball for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, was designed after the previous ball that was used 48 years ago, during the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico.

Interestingly, aside from having special features, the official match ball was tested severally at Loughborough University to ensure that any defect discovered was properly addressed.

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To sum up the quality of the ball, the kits manufactures' revealed what the final test Telstar 18 passed through.

"And it was also put through its paces by a robot-boot kicking machine at adidas’ German HQ which hammered shots at 90mph.

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"The Hawk-Eye technology used in cricket and tennis was also employed to make sure the ball performed consistently every kick," the report concluded.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously had reported that Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard limped out of Belgium's 4-1 victory over Costa Rica on Monday night.

The Red Devils' now face worrying time over the fitness star player ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

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