Brazuca – The Official Ball of World Football Cup 2014
Keeping up with the spirit of the host nation and the game, sporting goods manufacturing giants Adidas launched Brazuca, the Official Match Ball for the 2014 World Football Cup, Brazil.
The ball was officially launched in on 3 December 2013 in Rio de Janeiro and was also used in the Football U-20 World Cup and the friendly between Sweden and Argentina last February, though with a different design in different colors and patterns.
The brazuca, which means ‘Brazilian’ and refers to the Brazilian way of life, happens to be the most-tested Adidas ball in history. What’s also is special is that this is the first World Football Cup ball named by fans. It was revealed early in September 2012 after a public voting organized by the local organizing committee and Adidas, with over one million Brazilian football fans voting. The name Brazuca was unanimously chosen with 77.8% of the people voting in its favor. The other two names in contention happened to be Bossa Nova and Carnavalesca.
The ball’s design is based on ethnic Brazilian colors with the panels symbolizing the traditional multi-colored wish bracelets worn in the country. Also,it reflects the vibrancy and fun associated with football in the South American country.
The yellow and green of the country’s flag, as well as the 2014 World Football Cup logo, have been incorporated into the design. Moreover, its new structural innovation, with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch.
Over a period of nearly 2.5 years, the company came up with Brazuca and since then it has been tried out by several worldclass players or former players including ZinedineZidane, DaniAlves, Iker Casillas, Lionel Messi, etc.
Reference: Media reports, Germany football team FB page
(In association with Aniket Mishra, Editor-in-Chief, MSR SportsNews)