Adidas Germany Away Kit 2012-2013

Adidas have released their latest kit offering for the German national team ahead of the 2012 European Championships.

Die Mannschaft’s new kit is inspired by and honours the Euro 1972 winning West German team who defeated the Soviet Union 3-0 to earn Germany their first European Championship. The shirt features two tones of green for a subtle hooped effect. The white collar and white adidas branding over the shoulders and chest add to the classic retro look.

The colour green hasn’t been used on a German international shirt for 10 years and is a colour synonymous with German legends Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. Germany’s current crop of young stars such as Podolski, Ozil and Schweinsteiger will be hoping to replicate such success as they travel to Poland/Ukraine as one of the tournament favourites.

The inside collar has the dates 1972 and 2012 marking the forty year anniversary of Germany’s first Euro win. The three stars above the crest are coloured to match the green shirt. White shorts with green detailing and green socks complete the kit.

Germany will debut their new kit in an upcoming friendly against France in Bremen on 29 February 2012.

UEFA Champions League Finale Munich Ball

The UEFA Champions League will kick-off once again when the round of Last 16 begins on February 14^th. Ahead of the knock-out stage Adidas have unveiled the new ball design for the final set to be held in Munich, Germany.

In a change from previous season the new Finale Munich ball will be used throughout the knock-out stage and not just on just on the 19^th May 2012 at the Allianz Arena. The iconic Champions League star motif stands out beautifully with this White/Slime/Cyan/Indigo colourway unique design elements.

The adidas Finale Munich 12 ball has received the highest FIFA rating for weight, water uptake, shape and size retention. The PSC texture, an advancement from the ‘pimple’ design, aids power, swerve and control  in all weather conditions.

Star shaped panels are joined by revolutionary thermal bonding technology for perfect aerodynamics. Negating the need for seams and stitching benefits the ball prolonging the life and giving it a more predictable trajectory, better touch and lower water uptake.

New Brazil Home and Away Kit 12-13

Nike Football’s new Brasil uniform for 2012-2013 celebrates Jeitinho Brasileiro (“The Brasilian Way”) – the spirit that encompasses the resilience, creativity and relentlessly positive and innovative approach that has helped make the Brasil National Team the most successful in the history of football.

The Brasilian home jersey, affectionately known as Amarelinha (“Little Yellow One”), has become a revered national symbol that represents both the hopes of the Brasilian people and their vibrant and diverse culture.

In line with Nike’s commitment to superior athletic performance and lower environmental impact, the fabric of the new shorts is made with 100% recycled polyester, while the fabric of the jerseys is made with at least 96% recycled polyester.  Kits are made using an average of 13 recycled plastic bottles.

The new kit marks a return to tradition with a classic, authentic design that recognizes the country’s glorious football history. The shirt boasts a clean yellow body and a classic V-neck collar with a thin green trim. The shirt also features deep green cuffs, which can be turned over to reveal the rallying cry of Nascido Para Jogar Futebol (“Born to Play Football”) written in the style of Pichacao, a distinctive form of urban graffiti.

Printed on the inside of the back of the neck is a graphic by Brasilian artist Don Torelly. The graphic depicts an outline of the Brasilian federation’s crest containing the Southern Cross, a constellation of stars that was seen over Rio de Janeiro when the Brasilian republic was founded in 1889.

The design of the bold green numbers on the shirts is inspired by the numbers on Brasil’s national bank notes.

The new home shorts are a traditional blue color with a thick white stripe along the side.The new home socks, now with improved cushioning for greater comfort, movement and protection, are white with a green band at the top. A band of diamonds wraps around the center, echoing the tattoos of indigenous warriors.

The new kits are Nike Football’s lightest ever — up to 23 percent lighter than the previous versions. Nike Dri-FIT technology is incorporated throughout the  kits, which helps regulate players’ temperatures on pitch by removing sweat from the body to keep them dry and cool. Laser-cut ventilation on the shirts delivers localized cooling where athletes need it most.

Thanks to a new double-knit structure and yarns, the kits are 20 percent stronger than previous versions, without compromising on fit and feel. A small amount of natural cotton has been added for comfort.

Brasil 2012 Away Kit
The new away kit contains the same distinctive features as the home kit, but is entirely in varsity royal blue with yellow trim. The shorts are blue, and for the first time feature a thick yellow stripe along each side. The socks are blue with a tonal band of diamonds around the center.

Brasil Training and Lifestyle Collection
Nike has also launched an integrated training and lifestyle collection to complement the new uniform and enable players and fans to show their pride on and off the pitch.

For training, players will benefit from an innovative range of apparel designed to keep them comfortable in a variety of conditions. In hot weather they’ll keep cool in a short-sleeve training top with ventilation panels. When the temperature drops they’ll warm up in a mid-layer training top that protects against wind chill. In rainy conditions, players can add a windproof and waterproof long-sleeve performance shell top.

Brasilian fans will also be able to express their pride and honor their team’s culture with the launch of a new range of hoodies, tracksuit tops, T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, jackets and rugby tops. The range comes in Brasil’s iconic colors, features the Brasilian crest and other symbols, and boasts premium fabrics and elevated design.

Boot Spotting...

It’s time for your usual dose of Premier League boot spots as TRW returns with the latest and best boot spots from this weekend’s Premier League action.

With the transfer window having only recently shut there are still a few players making their debuts for their new teams. Everton’s new striker Nikica Jelavic made his Toffee debut against Wigan wearing a pair of White/Volt Tiempo Legend III boots.

Gary Cahill made his debut for Chelsea in what was arguably the match of the weekend. The ex-Bolton stopper almost grabbed the winner with just a few minutes remaining when he released a scorching long range drive. Cahill is still in Umbro Stealth Pro II boots – a silo Umbro have done away with since the introduction of the Geometra Pro.

It was a perfect start for Djibril Cisse midweek and now this weekend Bobby Zamora made a goal scoring start to his QPR career. Zamora has been in a Silver/Gold pair of Under Armour boots we believe to be the upcoming Hydrastrike II for awhile.

Another Cisse made a great start to his Premier League debut this weekend as Newcastle’s new Senegalese strikerPapiss Cisse came off the bench in Nike T90 Laser IV boots to score a stunning winner against Aston Villa. Cisse joined from SC Freiburg and will partner fellow Senegalese star Demba Ba.

Our last debut boot spot from the weekend is Manchester City’s new midfielder David Pizzaro. The Chilean arrived from Roma having made over 140 appearances for the Italian club. We are glad to see Pizzaro giving the new White/Energy Adidas AdiPure 11Pro another outing.

Nike’s Dark Shadow/Volt CTR360 colourway has been a massive hit but another one of their alternate colourways has been less of a hit in the Premier League. Perhaps the fact that the Red/White/Anthracite T90 Laser IV colourway is a leather boot is the reason we have only seen Fernando Torres and now Norwich’s South African born Andrew Surman in them.

Arguably one of the best performers this season, Swansea’s midfielder Joe Allen has been a revelation in the Premier League. Allen boasts passing stats the likes of Xavi and Iniesta would be proud of. The Welsh midfielder is a great advert for the control attributes of Adidas’ AdiPower Predator.

Robin van Persie is another player flying the AdiPower Predator flag. The Arsenal skipper is having his best season for the Gunners and struck a hat-trick over the weekend as the Gunners put 7 past a hapless Blackburn Rovers. Van Persie often has his Predators customised for him and he obviously has really likes his White/Purple Champions League colourway.

The Puma PowerCat 1.12 has been a great success since their launch. Peter Crouch has joined his fellow Puma wearers in the PowerCat 1.12’s second colourway. The classic looking Black/White/Lime colourway is similar to the launch colourway of the original PowerCat 1.10.

There is a lot of debate about Manchester United’s Spain keeper David De Gea. The young number 1 has looked shacky at times but put in a much improved display against Chelsea, despite them putting 3 past him. De Gea arrived in England wearing T90 Laser III boots but has since switched to Tiempo Legend IV boots.

Puma King Finale Sl

Having already made their on field debut, Puma have now officially unveiled the King Finale SL.  Described by Thierry Henry as the best boots he’s ever worn, the new King Finale SL have created a massive amount of hype and first impressions seem to imply they will deliver.

Weighing 225g the King SL is not the lightest leather boot (compared to the AdiPure 11Pro) on the market however do beat out the likes of Nike’s Tiempo IV Elite. The SL is based on the King Finale but features a thin premium K-Leather upper which is very lightweight and shapes perfectly to the foot for the same glove-like fit and ball feel you’d expect from the King Finale.

The heel counter has been stripped to reduce weight while the TPU injected outsole from the King Finale remains. The iconic fold over tongue has bee redesigned and the form-stripe is now an integrated feature of the light K-Leather upper instead of being another overlay of stitched material.

Thierry Henry and fellow Gunner Mikel Arteta have already worn the new Puma King Finale SL in this launchWhite/Navy/Team Orange colourway which is available now to order.

Adidas AdiZero MiCoach

Adidas made us wait a few months but have released their first colourway update for the AdiZero MiCoach since their launch in September last year. Set to be worn by the likes of Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale, David Silva and Ashley Young, we have to admit that this new Prime Blue/Core Energy/White colourway is a great colourway.

The arrival of the AdiZero MiCoach football boots was a game changer as the miCoach technology enabled both professional and amateur footballers to analyse their personal speed, distance and work rate during a game.

The adiZero F50 boot includes a built in cavity within the outsole which houses the revolutionary miCoach Sensor (Data Capture Chip). The miCoach Sensor captures 360 degrees movement and measures key performance metrics including speed, average speed (recorded every second), maximum speed (recorded every five seconds), number of sprints, distance covered, distance at high intensity levels as well as steps and stride rates. The on-board memory stores up to seven hours of all measurements during your game or training and then wirelessly transmits the on pitch performance data to your tablet, PC or MAC.

The adiZero F50 miCoach features technologies such as Adidas’ Sprintweb which provides stability during high speed movements. The lightweight Sprintskin upper is a revolutionary single layer synthetic which provides incredible ball-feeling and reduced weight. Adidas groundbreaking Sprintframe uses geometrics and new stud construction to offer the perfect balance between lightweight and stability.

The new Prime Blue/Core Energy/White will be available to pre-order towards the end of the month in both the synthetic and leather version.

AdiPure 11 Pro SL- Black/White/Energy

The Adidas AdiPure 11Pro boot haven’t even hit pitches yet but have already generated a huge amount of buzz. Following on from their unveiling Adidas have unveiled the AdiPure 11Pro SL. The adidas adiPure SL released last year became an instant fan favorite despite their lack of on field support and we expect a similar story with the new 11Pro SL.

Combining super lightweight innovation with a classic feel, the new adiPure 11Pro SL weigh a mere 180g – 60g lighter than the standard 11Pro. The 11Pro SL’s upper combines a super soft K-leather (the standard 11 Pro features a Taurus leather upper) with adidas’ revolutionary single layer Sprintskin synthetic.

The outsole on the 11Pro SL is the same a Traxion SprintFrame with triangular traxion stud configuration as on the AdiZero compared to the conical stud shapes found on the standard issues. The lightweight sole also integrates adidas’ miCoach technology through the cavity in the outsole. An anatomically moulded EVA insole and suede synthetic leather lining provide additional comfort.

Available from February 1st, the Black/White/Core Energy AdiPure 11Pro SL will be available to pre-order from January 13^th.

Adidas AdiZero MiCoach

Along with new Prime Blue/Core Energy/White colourway, Adidas have unveiled this Black/Electricity/Core Energy colourway. Set to be worn by the likes of Kalou, Podolski, Robben and Benzema, this alternate colourway is sure to catch the eye on the pitch.

The arrival of the AdiZero MiCoach football boots was a game changer as the miCoach technology enabled both professional and amateur footballers to analyse their personal speed, distance and work rate during a game.

The adiZero F50 boot includes a built in cavity within the outsole which houses the revolutionary miCoach Sensor (Data Capture Chip). The miCoach Sensor captures 360 degrees movement and measures key performance metrics including speed, average speed (recorded every second), maximum speed (recorded every five seconds), number of sprints, distance covered, distance at high intensity levels as well as steps and stride rates. The on-board memory stores up to seven hours of all measurements during your game or training and then wirelessly transmits the on pitch performance data to your tablet, PC or MAC.

The adiZero F50 miCoach features technologies such as Adidas’ Sprintweb which provides stability during high speed movements. The lightweight Sprintskin upper is a revolutionary single layer synthetic which provides incredible ball-feeling and reduced weight. Adidas groundbreaking Sprintframe uses geometrics and new stud construction to offer the perfect balance between lightweight and stability.

The new Black/Electricity/Core Energy will be available to pre-order towards the end of the month and is only available in synthetic and not a leather version. Despite this boot a support colourway to the new Prime Blue/Core Energy/White we expect these to be a huge hit with boot fans.

Umbro Geometra Pro - White/Red/KingFisher

Umbro have just released a host of new boot colourways and we think this is arguably their best. We expect to see Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson go straight into this new Liverpool kit complementing White/Red/Kingfisher colourway.

Umbro unveiled the Geometra pro in June last year as a new addition to their football boot range. They are specifically designed for the visionary in the team, the player who keeps calm on the field and always finds their pass. The Geometra combines the comfort and fit of Umbro’s English football tailoring heritage with the latest in football performance technology.

A memory foam ‘pass pad’ on its instep aids ball control while a silicon-bonded grip zone on the toe to helps touch and feel allowing the wearer to add increased loft and spin to the ball. The specialist sole has a new stud configuration featuring a pivot zone inspired by squash shoe and allows players to turn away from trouble in even the smallest areas. Full grain ceramic leather wraps the foot while further safeguarded is provided by the inclusion of a solid heel wrap and stabiliser.

Umbro Geometra Pro -Blk/Wht/Grn/Red

In June last year Umbro announced a new addition to their football boot range with the launch of the Geometra Pro – specifically designed for the visionary in the team, the player who keeps calm on the field and always finds their pass. The Geometra combines the comfort and fit of Umbro’s English football tailoring heritage with the latest in football performance technology.

A memory foam ‘pass pad’ on its instep aids ball control while a silicon-bonded grip zone on the toe to helps touch and feel allowing the wearer to add increased loft and spin to the ball. The specialist sole has a new stud configuration featuring a pivot zone inspired by squash shoe and allows players to turn away from trouble in even the smallest areas. Full grain ceramic leather wraps the foot while further safeguarded is provided by the inclusion of a solid heel wrap and stabiliser.

The Geometra Pro has been a great success in the Premier League with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Joe Hart and Jonas Gutierrez and we expect to see them switching to this new Black/White/Sharp Green/True Red colourway this weekend.

Umbro BT II Pro- Silver/Black/True Red

One of our favorite launches of 2011 here it TRW was undoubtedly the new Umbro GT II Pro. Umbro lightest, fastest and most futuristic boot has had a great start to their carrer with the likes of Spurs fullback Kyle Walker and Sunderland striker Connor Wickham wearing them in the Premier League.

The GT II Pro’s lightweight Japanese micro-fibre upper provides both softness and strength, with asymetric concealed lacing providing a greater strike surface. The anatomical last and removable sock-liner with Poron Performance inserts provide superb comfort. The outsole has anatomically shaped plates, sculpted to reduce weight while the lightweight sole plate is built to give improved grip and traction.

The launch colourway of Blue Radiance/Black/Orange Popsicle caught the eye and we expect this new Silver/Black/True Red to do the same and we can’t wait to see them on the feet of more Premier League stars.

Umbro Speciali 3

Umbro unveil the latest evolution of one of the games greatest ever boots.

Following the recent launch of the Speciali 92 collection to celebrate 20 years of greatness, Umbro has released the Speciali 3 – a contemporary take on the classic Speciali football boot. With the Speciali 3 Pro, Umbro celebrates the craft, quality, authenticity and football tailoring it is known for.

The Speciali traditions of comfort and fit, delivered with style, are at the core of the Speciali 3’s design. Epitomising this is the premium soft leather upper, a constant feature of the Speciali boot. This extends around the medial midfoot for uninterrupted touch and feel of the ball, aiding fit and comfort to create a truly tailored boot.

The classic Speciali A-frame remains as an internal reinforcement holding the midfoot in place. The A-frame has been an integral part of the Speciali boot since 1992 and continues to evolve to meet modern performance needs.

The boot features Clarino, a suede grip sock that aids comfort and has much greater breathability than standard synthetic materials.  Poron™ is a memory foam insert on the rear tongue, a highly durable material that doesn’t rot when wet.

Additional features of the new Speciali 3 Pro include:

• The boot is anatomically lasted to provide better support to the wearer

• Asymmetric eyestay lacing to maximise touch surface on the vamp and medial side

• A-frame shape inspired stitching helps minimise stretch in this critical lateral forefoot area

• Full grain leather used on collar and heel

• The classic Speciali twin stripes have been refreshed for 2012

• Blades have been added to the plate on the HG boot to provide added stability and traction, while keeping the conical shape for hard ground conditions

• A wider flex channel on the outsole to improve articulation, forefoot flex and toe off

• Tongue construction is a “dupalon” fused lining for a lightweight feel

The Speciali 3 Pro is designed and styled for the purist – the player who wants to look smart and play smart. The new Speciali 3 will be worn by the likes of Andy Carroll, Darren Bent, John Terry, Pepe, Michael Dawson, Michael Owen and Wilson Palacios.

Liverpool and England striker Andy Carroll said of the new Speciali 3: “I love playing in the Umbro Speciali boot – it’s become an icon of the game, worn by many great players. I like the classic style of the boot and it’s really comfortable to wear.  I feel a sense of pride when stepping out on to the pitch and the Speciali 3 Pro continues the evolution of this great boot.”

The new Speciali 3 Pro will be available from January 20^th and arrives initially in two great looking colourways:Pearlised White/Black/Nectarine and Black/White/Vivid Blue.