Fever pitch
The big name sports brands are flexing their pre- World Cup muscles. Leah Milner has a look at who’s likely to be the Brazil of the kit universe.
ven though it‘s April. everyone scents to be coming down with
something. Football fever is already taking hold and you'll catch it on the high street first. While the teams prepare for the World (‘up in June. the three giants. Adidas. Nike and Puma. have fought fiercely over team and player sponsorship in order to get you buying their kit this summer. Adidas has a contract with the (ierman team. plus a deal with lift: to supply the oflicial Teamgeist balls (£75). With the pulling power of David Beckham behind them. the
new generation Predator Absolute
boots (£l30) should ensure a win
for Adidas. For less goal-thirsty
fans. Adidas has launched two (3)
casual lines for both men and ‘ women. The World (‘up Moments j
and Beautiful (iame range include
'l‘-shirts with diamante-embellished .
football motifs.
In the bid for market share. . Adidas‘ biggest rival. Nike. has i nearly equalised and is already : better represented on the pitch. Nine ; of the 32 World (‘up teams have its 5 tick to their name. including Brazil.
You can buy any of Nike‘s (5 8: 6)
national shirts (£45). or the I
super-light Mercurial Vapor lll
boots (£l20) as sported by Thierry Henry and Ronaldo. Puma. created : by the estranged brother of Adi I
l)assler (of Adidas fame). is the
smallest of the sportswear giants. lts j
World (‘up collection pays homage
to (4) Pélé. and includes tracksuits. ;
trainers and a heritage jacket (£60).
But the big three are by no means 5 the only ones to be Jumping on the
Munich 2006 brandwagon. For
nostalgic fans. retro sportswear .
brand 'l‘offs has launched the (2)
Johan Cruyff Classic Collection .
(£49.99). with replicas of many of
the shirts worn by the legendary player. Umbro‘s range of classic kits includes (1) iconic England years (£39.99). Team the (7) Umbro 1966 shirt with ()nitsuka Tiger‘s I Mexico 66 trainers (£65) from the same year in patriotic red white and 1 i blue. If you want to avoid sweaty :9 sportsgear altogether. (8) buffer of . St George has cotton T-shirts in a £ range of national colours (£40). lt ? also has T-shins in support of anti- :
shirts from over the
racism charity Kick it Out (£35). Among (9 8. 10) French
Connection‘s World Cup offerings i. are relaxed men‘s T-shirts and a :
tight-fitting women’s range (all £20) with a retum to ‘FCUK-me'- style slogans. only this time using football innuendos.
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13-27 Apr 2006 THE LIST 103