"I Would Just Say The Balls Are A Bit Different, Feel It’s A Bit Lighter”

Written By Onyeka Daniel

This year’s World Cup has kicked off with very little on-field issues, owing to the huge money that was spent in hosting this World Cup, €229 billion, making it the most expensive World Cup ever, but just like the one hosted by South Africa in 2010, this year’s World Cup may be having an issue with the official match ball.

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The 2010 World Cup in South Africa had the Jabulani ball, which players claimed would move in the air, making it difficult to control and we could be having the same issue in Qatar after England defender, Kieran Trippier complained about the ball.

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According to Adidas, makers of the ball, “Al Rihla, (the name given to the ball) is expected to provide the highest levels of accuracy and reliability on the field of play, partly due to its new panel shape and surface textures.

The new design allows the ball to maintain a significantly higher speed as it journeys through the air,” it was further revealed. Trippier has admitted that the footballs at the World Cup feel ‘a bit lighter’, and has hinted that this could explain England’s struggles with set-pieces at the tournament so far.

England’s success with set-pieces was a major part of their run to the semi-finals four years ago, with Trippier himself scoring a direct free-kick in the last-four clash against Croatia.

But in Qatar, they’ve been far less effective from set-pieces in Qatar, though, with a number of crosses being over-hit in their opening two matches. Trippier has a theory as to why this may the the case;

“Every time I’ve crossed the ball I’ve felt the balls are a bit different but there are no excuses really,’ Trippier told reporters. “I would just say the balls are a bit different, but it is not the heat or anything. I feel it’s a bit lighter.

“It feels if you put too much power on it it’ll just fly away. But it’s one of them where we have to deal with that; all of us do. We train with the same ones. It’s a football, isn’t it? He further added.

Trippier is not the only player who appears to have had issues with Al Rihla, with set-piece deliveries proving inconsistent throughout the competition, while long-range goals have also been few and far between.

Even Lionel Messi had had problems, putting a couple of free-kicks in promising positions well over the crossbar. But it’s largely expected that these players will adjust to the ball as the tournament progresses into the knockout phase.

Meanwhile…

England and Tottenham Hotspur striker, Harry Kane may be playing his last season at the White Hart lane as he continues to attract the interest of top European clubs.

A recent report had emerged that he’s on the radar of Spanish giants, Real Madrid, who want him to replace Karim Benzema and now, Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn has again revealed his admiration for the England captain.

Read Also: Qatar 2022 Team Preview: The Three Lions

The Bavarians recently sold Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona and will be on the lookout for a top striker to sign.

Kane would be a worthy replacement, but the hard work lies in convincing Daniel Levy to let his most prized asset leave Tottenham after the club rejected the advances of Manchester City in the last summer transfer window.

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