Daily Dose: June 4th, 2010 – China’s Insane Jabulani Goal vs France

That goal blew my mind. Impossible. When I saw it live I had no idea how to react. At least it's just a friendly, I just feel bad for goalkeepers this summer. Because the Jubalani made Lloris look stupid, and he is arguably one of the top keepers in the World Cup. France should have scored at least 4 times, they just couldn't finish. That better change next week…..

That is one wicked curve on that ball. If that is the WC ball I can see why everyone is complaining.

even it's name makes it sound all over the place.

Jubalalalalaaniiiii

Yeah dude it has some crazy Haitian voodoo rattle on it or something

blah, so it took a deflection. france had the same opportunities to make the china goalkeeper look stupid as well. regardless of whatever grievances anyone has with the ball, its the same ball that all 22 players will use on the field at any given game this world cup = fair.

I'd disagree with that Adam. The way the ball moves means that players can essentially get lucky. So it adds an element of randomness into the game that arguably favours the less skilled team, because with the Jabulani they can accidentally do something they were previously unable to do.

I'm taking comfort in the fact that we (France) aren't peaking too soon or wasting our goals on friendlies…good to know we are saving those up for the actual tournament.

Maybe this is denial- its definitely faith…just let me believe it for another week….

The field players also have to adapt to the ball. I see no reason why goalkeepers should complain. Besides, this kind of trajectory has already been seen with other balls. People like using excuses. Now if a lesser renouned team wins the WC it would be because of refs+ball spin+vuvuzela+bad food+whitney houston's voice+….

=__=

La France va cartonner, vous le savez bien. B)

Allez les Bleus! ^0^

sorry, u just cant convince me that the ball allows less skilled players to appear more skillful? so what about the skilled guys then? its that sort of mentality that rugby fans make fun of football fans for. man up.

i think its discomforting for a lot of people that some unknown guy from china hits a good freekick and beats one of europes top young keepers…and everyone's looking for a reason. i blame zeus.

So is Domenech taking even more flak after this latest match? Can't imagine this went down to well…

I think the “less skilled more skillful” argument holds–when the ball does something the player didn't intend, particularly something good, that's giving the player an advantage he wouldn't have had previously. And that applies to the good players and the less skilled.

Yeah, the players need to adjust, but it's not excuse-making, it's physics.

It's not the ball. It's bad goalkeeping. France shouldn't be in the World Cup in the first place after what Henry did.

If Ronaldo hit it = greatest goal ever. CR9 fanboys cream their pants. If a Chinese player hits it = fluke. It's the ball!

Now I don't want to brag, but I have made a regular ball (it was adidas though) move like this. It's not too difficult, though takes lots of practice and LOTS of out takes. Edit: And LOTS of power. The key is to lean to one side and hit across the ball high up with your foot and try to prevent following through on the ball – and then after this, you just need to hope that you've hit the sweet spot.

A wicked curve is all you need to tip a match in your favour. Balls of steel