Pride with their boots on

This summer, the kaleidoscope of colour will be created not only by the players in their team kits and the countless fans following the 64 games inside the stadiums, but also by the footwear being sported by the tournament's stars.

To explain, adidas has devised an innovative idea for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, one which has involved the design of 32 individually-customised football boots for each of the participating nations. Every team at the tournament will receive their very own adidas +F50 TUNIT 32 boots, proudly displaying national team colours as well as details and facts about the particular country.

The German sportswear giant has also developed a unique variant of the +F50 TUNIT 32, which will be worn by a selected player from each team at the finals. The list of stars who will lace up the boots includes such illustrious names as Lionel Messi (Argentina), Ze Roberto (Brazil) and Lukas Podolski (Germany).

Podolski proud, Messi thrilled
"I am proud to have been supplied with these boots by adidas," Podolski told FIFAworldcup.com. "It is an honour to have been selected. I am only 20 years old and I already have my own unique boots." The shoe of the German striker bears the Brandenburg Gate on the side, with the inscription 'Unity', evoking German unification in 1990.

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Argentine prodigy Lionel Messi also showed his delight when presented with his personal +F50 TUNIT 32 boots. Messi's model bears Argentina's national colours as well as two stars representing his nation's two previous FIFA World Cup wins, in 1978 and 1986.

"It is a wonderful souvenir for Argentina and will hopefully bring us luck at the World Cup," said Messi, who will be competing with Podolski and other young stars at the tournament for the coveted Gillette Best Young Player Award.

The individual design and diversity of details, as well as the technological properties of the +F50 TUNIT 32, have captured the imagination of every one of the selected players ahead of Germany 2006. "The boots are beautiful," said Croatia midfielder Marko Babic. "I have been wearing adidas for years and these are the best boots I have ever had. Each pair has its own colours for the World Cup. It is a great idea."

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As with the German model worn by Podolski, the boot for Portugal will also have the national anthem imprinted on the inner lining. "It is fantastic to have the national anthem in the boots. It makes me even more proud to be playing for the Portuguese national team," said striker Helder Postiga.

Colourful and original
France striker Sidney Govou was also full of praise for the individually-designed adidas models. "They are very colourful and original," he said. "You could say that this is the boot of the national team. I will wear the boots full of pride for my country."

The stars are clearly excited about the +F50 TUNIT 32. Now all that remains is for them to use their new boots to put the adidas +Teamgeist™ ball in the net as often as possible, and the colourful footwear will become equally popular with fans across the world.