New Delhi: After three weeks of drama, entertainment, and goals, EURO 2024 is heading towards its conclusion. Twenty-four teams have now been whittled down to just four, and they will go head-to-head in the semi-finals to book a berth for the final showdown in Berlin on July 15. And with that, the official sponsor of UEFA, Adidas, like before each major tournament, will feature a unique ball design, and Euro 2024 is no exception.
In recent years, Adidas has introduced special balls for the semi-finals and finals of the tournament. The most recent was at the 2022 Qatar World Cup in Qatar, where the overall design remained the same but the colours were changed. Taking the same approach for the European Championship, Adidas has officially unveiled the new ball that will be used in the final three matches of the fixture.
The FUSSBALLLIEBE FINALE ball features mostly the same design, inspired by the national colours of Germany but the main colour, white, has been replaced with eye-catching silver, representing the silverware that the final four teams are fighting for. Adidas has stated that they have tested the ball with the athletes and ensured that it stands out on the pitch without reflecting light back off the surface.
Although the hosts are no longer in the competition yet they will still be represented in the semi-finals and finals. For the first time in the Euros history, the ball used in the semi-finals and final will feature Connected Ball technology which will help deliver the precise ball data to video match officials in real time. The technology also offers accurate measurement of in-play data to fans, including the ball spin and distance travelled by the ball before hitting the back of the net.
Adidas has also revealed a new match ball plinth for the semi-finals and final pre-match ceremonies. The plinth is made in a triangular prism made up of 54 triangles representing 54 national associations that took part in the current edition of the tournament.
For the first semi-final on Tuesday, Spain will face France in Munich before England and the Netherlands clash in Dortmund on Wednesday for the second semifinal.
The tournament final is scheduled for Sunday, July 14.
The FUSSBALLLIEBE FINALE official match ball, priced at €150 (around Rs 13,500), is available in adidas retail and selected retailers and online at adidas.com football balls.
Adidas’ game-changing FUSSBALLIEBE FINALE ball unveiled for EURO 2024 semis & final. Why the change? Discover the innovative tech now. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
