World Cup Kits go High-Tech. And Female Fans Rejoice

December 2nd, 2009 | by: Laurie |

adidas 2010 World Cup Fed Kit - France World Cup 2010 kits have gone high tech. Seriously high tech.

How high tech, you ask?

Well, according to the official Adidas press release:

Through the use of compression fabrics and applied TPU bands in specific areas, TECHFIT is proven to increase a player’s power by 5.3 per cent*, vertical leap by 4 percent*, sprint speed by 1.1 per cent* and enhance endurance by 0.8 per cent*. The adidas 2010 FIFA World Cup TECHFIT jerseys worn as a single layer are 45 percent lighter than wearing two pieces together.

Power increase of 5.3%? Wow.

But wait. There’s more.

henry adidas kits Female fans, if the recent French look is anything to go by, the performance maximization requires that these jerseys be extremely tight-fitting. As in: second-skin-tight.

(Or, y’know, so I’ve been told.)

And I’m surprised that nobody’s mentioned this, but given that these kits can do in one layer what it used to take two to accomplish? Goodbye base layers. Which is great for the players because…uh…compressions shorts and shirts under a kit add weight and…um..

Oh, who am I kidding? What I’m really saying, ladies, is that they’re taking away the undergarments, which means shirt swaps just got interesting again.

(And that giant crashing sound you hear is the internet collapsing under the collective weight of Kickette readers rushing to send a million fruit baskets to the good researchers at Adidas.)

But the good news for players of a certain body type is that this skintight fit is apparently not the only option.

The second 2010 FIFA World Cup jersey option is the FORMOTION uniform, which features optimised garment construction with sculpted sleeve openings to accommodate maximum freedom of movement.

I haven’t seen photos of this one, but I believe it may be known as the “Brazilian Ronaldo” option.

Oh, what? I’m only thinking about his comfort.

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

Juanos

What’s with the backpack look?
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

That’s just for France. And worse, in the back it looks like a sports bra. Must be some kind of avant garde French design thing. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/11/19/article-1229138-0745A35E000005DC-879_468×315.jpg

You can see some other countries’ kits here. http://www.examiner.com/x-413-Seattle-Soccer-Examiner~y2009m12d1-TECHFIT-uniforms-available-for-players-at-2010-World-Cup
http://inter.theoffside.com/ Johonna

[Homer Simpsonesque drooling noises] No base layers…. tight jerseys…..

Just one more thing to look forward to this summer.
Terry from Naples fl

THE BACK IS THE PARACHUTE THEY WILL NEED WHEN THEY ARE BOOTED OUT OF THE WC,OFFCOURSE ONLY IF DOM IN CHARGE,PLEASE GOD MAY DOM DIE OF A HART ATTACK OR CAR ACCIDENT PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Foreverzidane

I’ve already got mine, sorry jealous people! LOL
NUMERO CINQ WILLIAM GALLAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brief

I actually prefer my kits a little roomy. But hey, if this one means no base layers, I can deal. *glances pointedly at Iker Casillas*
http://avoidingthedrop.com Magnakai Haaskivi

That shirt doesn’t look “second skin tight” on Henry.
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Magnakai, I was thinking the same thing. (Not that I notice that kind of thing. Or anything.) But it’s hard not to notice in the photo link in the second comment (the Daily Mail one) where he’s standing right next to Nicolas Anelka.

Hmmm…
http://www.freedomgroupinc.com/ debt help

wow i bet they spent a ton of money trying to make those and they are just clothes
Jean-François

Very nice new jerseys, makes me feel bad for those stuck with Nike(USA & Brazil), because they have nothing on Adidas. (not looking forward to France’s future change to Nike)
http://bolton.theoffside.com Matilda

What a wonderful wonderful invention!
http://angola.worldcupblog.org/ Kiko

They might freeze to death with this new kit.
El Tri Fan

Unfortunately for Adidas, they overlooked the fact that football is played using the legs and not the upper body, so this new jersey technology won’t do much to enhance player performance. Maybe next time they can create techfit tights (full pants), that will improve performance and really get the ladies going as they watch men in tights.
Alix

I am offended by the Kickette readers comment.
Sure, all the good-looking players are nice and all, but it’s all about the game.
http://kamraii.8k.com yasir

is very nice shirt
http://kamraii.8k.com yasir

very nice colour