World Cup ball to blame

Yes, the ball does make a difference. I've never seen so many shots fly over the goal and at tremendous speed. The ball should have been introduced to the players a year before the World Cup, maybe players would have been accustomed to it and more goals could have been scored (which was surely the aim of all this).

If Beckham was involved with the design, I am highly disappointed that he never scored from a free kick.

I was under the impression that a football had to be a regulation weight and size. It therefore can't be too light or too small. The only thing the manufacturer can tinker with are it's aerodynamics by experimenting with various materials. We seem to have this problem with the ball every time the technology advances with the coming of every new World cup or Euro Championship.

The new Mitre ball used in the League and Premiership had wholesale nfl jerseys a will of its own. The Premiership Nike ball that replaced the Mitre one was said to be too flighty. Cheap Nike Jerseys Perhaps it's time to standardise the materials and designs used by all the major manufacturers.

Beckham had a hand in the design? Well, he ain't no rocket scientist that's for sure!

This ball is a travesty. They should go back to using the bladder of a year old pig, gently cured in brine for six months and filled with pure Cheap NFL Jerseys mountain air from Nepal.

Joe, USA

I believe that the new Fevernova ball from Adidas gives an unfair advantage to teams like France and South Africa. A pity they weren't able to capitalize.

Mark,

Why blame the ball? Those who do are just sore losers.

Paul, UK

Are we all forgetting that there are strict regulations for weight and size of a football? The ball is not too light, too big, too round, too hard, too soft or whatever other excuses are being used by teams who have been knocked out.

The new ball seems to behave more like a shuttle cock; initially moving at high speed through the air, climbing, hanging, then dropping sharply.

A few favourites are upset by "lesser" teams beating them and, all of a sudden, the ball is too round.

Round ball Wholesale NFL Jerseys China or square ball, the players could use a melon instead and it wouldn't matter. All the games have the same ball, it's just unlucky if a certain few can't get on with it. As for goal shots, the ball seems to fly straight and smooth and bends well too, although it has loads of bounce which could be a hindrance at times.

John Stanness,

Faster, lighter ball = more goals = more exciting football. Gone are the days where defence and the goalkeepers ruled. We need to embrace higher scoring games and faster, better balls. This all adds to the excitement in the tournament. Fevernova or no Fevernova, one team goes to win the World Cup. Then we wouldn't have to wait so long for the Rugby World Cup.

Paul Turner, Hong Kong (ex pat)

I've noticed in several matches that the ball does not seem to run along with the player, and slacks a bit when the player is running. This causes a bit of discomfort for the players because they seem to be running faster than the ball upon passes.

I had the opportunity to play with a replica of the Fevernova ball last week and I can honestly say that it's a credit to 21st century technology. My personal opinion is that yes, it does move in the air when travelling but most modern day balls do.

It felt like it moulded to your foot when kicking but strangely when heading the ball it felt as solid as say a mitre delta. Well done to Adidas for producing a piece of footballing mastery.