Fifa World Cup 2018 ball: Adidas Telstar 18 football 'a problem for goalkeepers'

AFP/Getty Images
Jamie Teather16 June 2018

The official ball being used at this summer’s World Cup finals could lead to plenty of long-range goals, according to a number of goalkeepers at the Russia final.

The Adidas Telstar 18 was designed in order to reduce the amount of dip and movement players can put on the ball, especially from set-pieces.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the architect of the famous technique now known commonly as the ‘knuckle-ball’ strike, but Adidas have spent three years and millions of pounds to create what they believe to be the ‘most perfect piece of equipment ever used in the game’.

However, it seems as though the ball hasn’t gone down so well with those who matter - the players playing at the World Cup, and especially the goalkeepers, with Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suggesting that if anything, the balls moves more.

The most high-profile critics have been Spain’s keepers Pepe Reina and David De Gea along with Germany’s Ter Stegen, who commented on the quality of the ball after respective World Cup warm-up matches for their nations.

"I bet you as much as you like that we'll see at least 35 goals from long range [in Russia], because it's impossible to work out," Reina told AS.

Getty Images

"And it's covered in a plastic film that makes it difficult to hold on to.

“Goalkeepers are going to have a lot of problems with this ball."

Bongarts/Getty Images

Manchester United and Spain No.1 De Gea agreed with his national team-mate, calling the ball "really strange" and adding: "It could have been made a lot better."

Ter Stegen said: "The ball could be better; it moves a lot.

"But I think we're just going to have to get used to working with it, and try to get to grips with it as quickly as possible before the World Cup starts. We've got no other option."

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