Italian Marcelo Lippi has faced a number of soccer pundit jokes this season due to the age of his team. The team is very likely to be fairly new by the Brazilian World Cup, when athletes such as 32 year-old Gianluigi Buffon, 36 year-old Fabio Cannavaro, 32 year-old Gennaro Gattuso, and other players like Andrea Pirlo (31), Gianluca Zambrotta (33), Vincenzo Iaquinta (30), Mauro Camoranesi (33), and Antonio Di Natale (32) are sure to be gone from the team. Who will Lippi or his successor choose to replace the team?
Lorenzo De Silvestri Defender (Fiorentina) Aged 22 De Silvestri, a former full back for Lazio, is slightly over six feet tall. When he moved to Fiorentina in 2009, De Silvestri came into his own in the form that served him in representing Italy from U16 to U21. With such a solid basis in the skills necessary to become a good fullback, De Silvestri might end up replacing Gianluca Zambrotta for the national team.
Davide Santon Defender (Inter) Aged 19 Able to play down either flank, Santon is a hugely talented young defender who made 28 appearances for Inter this season as well as five appearances already for the Azzuri. The tireless Santon can run the flanks for the entire ninety minutes and has even been compared to Paolo Maldini by coach Marcelo Lippi. Technically sound too, Santon, barring injury and a dramatic loss of form, should be a member of the next few Italian squads at major finals events.
Mario Balotelli (Striker) (Inter) Aged 19 Mario Batelli, though prone to fights and poor sportsmanship, may be one of the best attackers or wingers wearing the Italy soccer apparel in upcoming games. Batelli’s run-ins with both fans and management only serve to distract from his excellent record: the player scored twenty goals in 59 games and notched 6 and 16 for the U21 Italian set. His time will surely come in the Euro 2012 qualifiers when Italy are going to need a new look strike force.
Federico Macheda (Striker) (Man Utd) Aged 18 Despite Macheda’s failure to make first team at Old Trafford, soccer pundits agree that Man United’s striker could make a name for himself in the 2010-2011 season, and even gain the attention of Azzuri management. Macheda’s strength as a striker coupled with his intelligence gives him a boost in scoring goals. Particularly good with his back to goal, he has already been capped at U21 level for Italy and if he can start to make a bigger impact in the United first team, full honours should soon follow.
Antonio Candreva (Midfielder) Udinese Aged 23 The most daunting challenge that the Italian team faces is finding Pirlo’s replacement, and they may have found their man in Candreva. Pundits speculate that the Udinese midfielder will make his loan to Juventus a more permanent situation, especially since his abilities to play the entire midfield and master the perfection of Pirlo’s holding, creative role have been urging a permanent position.
So the World Cup party is starting to settle down and the inevitable fallout is in full swing. England’s swift exit was a huge let down for fans but that disapointment could have given way to seething anger had the game have swung on England’s second goal which was disallowed by the referee.
After the game, fans meekly tried to insist that the result would have been different had the second goal been called in, the truth is that the three lions were outclassed by a much more cohesive, effective German side. Some even saw this as a positive, because, had the score remained 2-1 to the Germans in lieu of England’s equalizer, the sport would have been brought into disrepute.
Sep Blatter, FIFA president finally conceded two weeks after the game that goal-line technology needed to be implemented to safeguard against similar debacles in the future and bring football up to the level of other sports that have used technology to great effect for years now. Cameras on the goal-line are an obvious choice but other techniques suggested are a unified communications network between the officials allowing lightning fast negotiations to keep the game flowing.
With regards to the specific technology used, Voice Over IP Phone headsets have been suggested for their ease of use and ability to host multiple conversations at once. This way the referee would have access to instantaneous communications with linesmen. There are some naysayers who champion the theory that such technology would slow the pace of the game, but in sports like tennis which use the Cyclops device , player disputes with umpires have been greatly reduced which actually serves to keep the action going.
All it takes is a camera set on the goal-line and an IP Phone system for officials, ease of implementation and cost is hardly an issue considering the millions of pounds circulating in English football currently. While Blatter has insisted that the sport retain as much of it’s tradition as possible with the Premireship being no different to Sunday league football, players’ overblown wages surely undermine this argument.
The sport needs technology and quickly, there are too many incidents of obvious goals being disallowed with potentially game changing consequences. Football is stuck in the dark ages and technology is the only thing that can drag it out. Let us all pray that Blatter sees sense, at least before 2014.
Jabulani meant to celebrate in Zulu, one of the eleven languages of South Africa, and the design of the Jabulani has 11 colors to honor those 11 languages, in addition to the 11 communities of South Africa and the 11 players on a team.
Jabulani Constructed with spherically shaped, eight new thermally bonded, 3 D EVA and TPU panels, the Jabulani has been equipped with a new Grip’n'Groove technology. New Grip’n'Groove technology is a textured technology that make sure the Jabulani can flies straightforward and true. The Jabulani is build for never seen power, swerve and control before. It is a ball very worthy of the best in the game.
The ball is constructed using a new design, consisting of eight (down from 14 in the last World Cup) thermally-bonded, 3D panels. These are spherically-moulded from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU). . The design has received considerable academic input, being developed in partnership with researchers from Loughborough University, United Kingdom.
The Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball comes with some features : the Official World Cup 2010 Jabulani Official Match Soccer Ball by adidas, adidas’ 11th FIFA World Cup official match ball. Designed for never before seen power, swerve and control, BLADDER: Latex for excellent rebound, COVER: Thermally bonded PU for exceptionally true and straight flight, FIFA approved.
The Jabulani Ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup features a completely new, ground-breaking technology. Eight 3D formed EVA & TPU panels are combined together, create harmoniously enveloping the inner design. This combination create an energetic unit with perfect roundness. Following the tests, players all over the world are enthusiastic and are promising many goals with the new ball. Adidas colaborate with world-class athletes in the development & testing of its products. For JABULANI, adidas partners FC Bayern München, the Orlando Pirates, AC Milan, and Ajax Cape Town tested the ball in 2008, to improvements in the material composition and surface structure.
One of customer review is Delia De La Torre. Here is what he said about Jabulani Ball “The ball is original, as described. Arrived in time for my husband birthday. He is loving it!.”
On December 4th, adidas and FIFA officially unveiled the adidas “JABULANI”, the Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball, South Africa.
The World Cup 2010 Ball design features eight panels, an all-new grip ‘n groove profile and bigger sweet spots. The 11 different colors on the ball represent the 11 official languages of South Africa, the 11 diverse South African communities that exist throughout the country, and the 11 players on the pitch.
The colorful Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball design brings together the tremendous diversity of the country in harmonious unity. Four triangle-shaped design elements on a white background lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit.
Still, Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball took adidas well over three years of extensive research and development to present the adidas Jabulani, its best-performing ball ever.
World Cup 2010 Ball
The 2010 World Cup Ball features a completely new, ground-breaking technology. Eight 3-D spherically formed EVA and TPU panels are moulded together, harmoniously enveloping the inner carcass. The Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball result is an energetic unit combined with perfect roundness. Following the first tests, players all over the world are enthusiastic and are promising many goals with the new Adidas World Cup 2010 Match Ball.
For the best players in the world, FIFA designed a quality concept to guarantee the highest standard of balls. Only after a series of stringent tests is a ball awarded the FIFA-Approved hallmark. Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball tests executed in the adidas football laboratory in Scheinfeld and at the Testing Centre of the University of Loughborough prove the adidas Jabulani does not only meet these FIFA-Approved standards, it exceeds practically each of them.
For the water absorption test, Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball is pressed and rotated in a container of water 250 times, after which the ball will be weighed. The water uptake test will also be weighed before and after.
Constructed with eight new thermally bonded, spherically shaped, 3 D EVA and TPU panels, the World Cup 2010 Adidas Ball is perfectly round and has been equipped with a new Grip’n'Groove technology. Grip’n'Groove is a textured treatment that ensures the Jabulani flies straight and true. The World Cup 2010 Adidas Ball is designed for never before seen power, swerve and control. Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball is the truly worthy of the best in the game.
A top-rated new Soccer Academy is attached to the innovative Phuket International Academy Sports and Leisure Club (PIASLC) is preparing to become Asia’s paramount competition, training and event complex when it opens this November. Combining a tremendous location with top-rated facilities, it is already gaining consideration from foremost worldwide sporting institutions and international corporations.
PIASLC is located on over 50 acres of property in the northeastern region of Phuket, Thailand. It possesses an extensive array of high-quality sports facilities including an International Rugby Board-standard rugby pitch, FIFA-approved Limonta “Soccer Pro’’ soccer field, competitive fifty-meter eight lane outdoor swimming pool (suitable for water polo and competitive swimming), a fully shaded 25 metre, eight lane swimming pool, toddler’s and children’s pools and play area, a six court tennis academy, runners track and a StarTrac equipped hi-tech gymnasium, along with an arts centre and a Thai Herbal Garden Spa. Phuket International Academy Sports and Leisure Club Sports, Leisure and Events Centre.
Accommodations are available in the form of two boutique hotels, providing 115 well-appointed rooms and suites for visitors, athletes, teams and corporate groups. The club has quickly gained recognition through prestiguous partnerships with international sporting organizations including Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS), NZRugbyResources (NZRR), and IronKids Triathlon. Announcement of tennis and swimming association are expected in the near future.
The PIASLC is working toward becoming the premier sports and corporate event center in Asia. Not only offering Asia’s top facilities for sports but also brilliant facilities and accommodations for conferences, incentives, retreats and teambuilding.
PIASLC announced “As a fully-integrated complex, we are also going to be the perfect location for companies looking to build something active, creative or wellness inspired into their event programmes.”
NZRugbyResources Director, David Adamson, said the PIASLC complex were “second to none” and perfect for conducting elite and amateur training camps and competitions.
Brazilian Soccer Schools] [Futebol de Salao Successful BSS uses Futebol de Salao (FDS). The training and game is known for a 5-a-side version of soccer originally from South America. FDS is played with a smaller (size 2), and slightly heavier (465gm) ball that has virtually no bounce to it.
The PIASLC has also confirmed an affiliation with the US-based IronKids programme. This partnership will support four junior Triathlon events per year as well as training camps for kids aged between 6 and 15.
The PIASLCis organized into specialized sports academies. has named former Muay Thai champion “Thanootong’’ Prasert Intanoo to manage the martial arts program at the impressive Phuket, Thailand sports centre. Just as muay thai boxing stesses dedication and ability, the assignment is another example of the PIASLC bringing in leading experts to work at the up-and-coming first-class facility and help position it as the first choice sports and leisure destination in Asia.
Phuket International Academy is situated in an area of natural beauty amidst the foothills of a national park on the eastern part of Phuket, Thailand. PIA is an integrated facility hosting Phuket’s newest International School, a multi-faceted Sports and Leisure Club for elite athletes, amateur enthusiasts, artists and wellness seekers – all within the Mind Centre sanctuary that provides training in the cultivation of mental and emotional balance. Phuket International Academy is proud of being a responsible member of the community. It is committed to operating with integrity as an equal opportunity employer and adhering to the highest ethical standards to accomplish Mind, Body and Spirit Wellness
As part of a uniquely integrated complex, the Sports and Leisure Club works in synergy with both the Phuket International Academy Day School and PIAMC. The Phuket International Academy Day School is aspiring to develop into a three programme International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. The PIA Day School has high-quality facilities, teachers, trainers, staff and administration. Click this link for additional information on the Phuket International Academy Day School International School Thailand.
As part of a total commitment to sports excellence the PIAMC has begun to provide training in the cultivation of cognitive and emotional balance. The PIAMC will offer a blend of modern psychology and neuroscience together with traditional Asian contemplative practices. Delivered through residential retreats and weekend seminars PIAMC is open to all. It teaches the practice of “mindfulness of breathing”, which is helpful method for relaxing the body and calming the mind. A second method taught is both a shamatha practice and vipashyana, “insight meditation” called “settling the mind in its natural state”. Phuket International Academy Mind Centre Meditation, Mind Studies, and Retreats.
