For all the talk about Adidas’s Jabulani ball bending too much and making life miserable for keepers, look at the goals per game: only 1.67 as of this writing. True, that’s after just 9 games and true, opening-round games present their own weird environment. Still, the lowest overall goals-per-game average in World Cup history was 2.21 in 1990. (The highest, in 1954, was 5.38.)
Some observers note that the new ball is leading keepers to punch away a lot more balls rather than try to catch them. It may also be that the Jabulani is harder for outfield players to handle as well. I am sure you all have a million other thoughts …
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with all that ghastly racket going on the players must be struggling to think; or at lest hear each other calls. its a form of white noise torture.
Not to mention that the quality of goals is hardly inspiring… i.e., the UK keeper’s gift goal to the USA, the own goal by Denmark earlier today, a few penalty goals, etc.
Judging from the number of shots that have sailed over the nets, I wonder if the balls have been filled with helium.
Goalies and all other players agree on this: it’s not a soccer ball, it’s a beach ball. Goalies can’t catch it and even good technical players can’t control it. We are having a world cup, a once every four years showcase of the world’s best players, being played with a beach ball. It’s outrageous.
The players didn’t really care too much. They were asked their opinion, and the media made it seem like it was a strong opinion. In reality, they probably preferred an old ball, but only because it’s what they were used to. In the end, it doesn’t matter.
Speaking of which…why are we talking about it?
Dube:
The World Cup stadium is at al altitude higher than 1750 meters. (Denver is 1600 meters). So dragging those oxygen bottles up and down the field will slow things down a bit.
No judgement about the new ball should take place in those conditions.
As you suggest, the ball may be harder to handle. I would be interested in knowing # of shots as related to # of goals, comparing this year with past years.
Players adjust quickly to the game ball. I’ve played where the ball felt like a stinking kick ball. After that first kick, you almost auto adjust.