Marcus Hahnemann Does Not Like the Adidas Jabulani. Or Horses With Runny Noses.

May 26th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

horse runny nose The first plane full of footballers officially took off towards South Africa this morning, but we all know it’s not really a World Cup party until one of the goalkeepers complains about the ball. Cue third choice USA keeper Marcus Hahnemann:

“It’s horse s—,” Hahnemann said. “It’s the worst soccer ball I’ve ever played with. It’s plastic. It feels like s— when it comes off your foot. It moves like crazy. It swerves.

“It’s kind of like one of those plastic balls kids play with at the beach. You can’t tell what it’s going to do. It sucks.”

(Not sure what that s-word is that Soccernet have edited out. My guess is that it’s something rude. Like snot. Because horse snot would not be a good feel for a World Cup ball.)

So yes, the complaining about the new adidas World Cup ball has begun. Just as it did in 2006. Just as it does whenever keepers have to re-adjust to a new ball. My theory is that FIFA do this deliberately, so as to unnerve all (32 times three equals…) 96 World Cup goalkeepers and thus ensure at least one spectacular long range goal at the start of the tournament.

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soccerroo

Yeah I think after last nights game Hahnemann may have just moved up to th 2nd keeper. I love his discription of the ball. It sound exactly like Germany's keeper in 2006 when Lehman(sp) was describing the new ball.
http://www.facebook.com/BootsnAll Chris Heidrich

And ironically this ball is supposed to be better for 'keepers with the micro ridges or whatever they're calling them adding superior grip.
Bense235

It's not as if that happened coincidentially. They want such a ball so more goals occur.