World Cup
TELSTAR 18 IS THE OFFICIAL MATCH BALL FOR 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
BY BOLAJI OKUOLA.
Following an established tradition since 1970, adidas, the official supplier of kit and football to FIFA this Thursday unveiled the official ball for Russia 2018 World Cup.
Memories of the part were evoked as the new official ball, called Telstar 18, reflects the first official ball that adidas produced for FIFA in 1970.
Then, it was simply called Telstar. That was the football kicked by the legendary Pele, the flamboyant German central defender, Franz Beckenbauer, the great Gerd Muller, England’s Bobby Moore among other stars whose foot prints are well entrenched in World Cup history.
However, Telstar 18 is a departure from the recent tradition established by adidas.
Since Mexico ’86, the German sports kit manufacturer had always adapted a name from World Cup hosts to the official balls.
That way, the Mexico ’86 World Cup official ball was Azteca. France ’98 was Tricolore, and made in the French red-white-blue tricolour.
In South Africa, it was the local name, Jabulani’ which means celebration that was used for the official ball, while in Brazil, it was Brazuca.
This time, adidas reinvented a classic model. Sports Village Square reason that the figure 18 attached to the name may have come from the year of the World Cup that the ball is meant for – 2018. But according to FIFA in its official website, the new ball is drawing positive remarks.
“I was lucky enough to get to know this ball a bit earlier and I managed to have a try with it,” Argentina star Lionel Messi said. “I like all of it: the new design, the colours, everything.”
According to FIFA, the name of the original Telstar came from its status as the “star of television”. The first ball to be decorated with black panels, the pattern was designed to stand out on black-and-white TVs, and changed football design forever.
Roland Rommler, Category Director of Football Hardware at adidas described the new ball: “Almost 50 years later, Telstar 18 features a brand new carcass, high technology and sustainable elements such as recycled packaging. It also includes an embedded NFC chip, which enables consumers to interact with the ball using a smart phone.
“The personalised and location-aware experience displays specific details of each ball and provides access to challenges which users can enter in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup.
“The original Telstar is one of the most iconic footballs of all time and one which changed football design forever, so developing the Telstar 18 while staying true to the original model was a really exciting challenge for us.
“The new panel structure and inclusion of an NFC chip has taken football innovation and design to a new level and offers both consumers and players a completely new experience.”
World Cup
Messi hits 10th hat-trick as Argentina hammer Bolivia 6-0
Lionel Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick and had a hand in two more goals as Argentina thrashed Bolivia 6-0 in South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in front of an adoring home crowd at the Monumental stadium on Tuesday.
Making only his second international appearance since recovering from an injury sustained at the Copa America in July, Messi capitalised on a mistake by defender Marcelo Suarez to open the scoring in the 19th minute.
Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra made a couple of fine saves to prevent the hosts from extending their lead but he was beaten in the 43rd minute when Lautaro Martinez scored from Messi’s quick cross.
Argentina made it 3-0 just before the break, with Messi setting up Julian Alvarez to score.
Lionel Scaloni’s side controlled the second half and looked like they had extended their lead through Nicolas Otamendi, only to see the goal disallowed for offside.
Substitute Thiago Almada did make it 4-0, however, scoring from Nahuel Molina’s pass in the 70th minute with the venue transformed into an Argentine party.
Messi, 37, gave fans more reason to celebrate in the closing moments, beating two Bolivia defenders before unleashing a fierce shot past Viscarra to score his second.
Messi needed only two more minutes to complete the hat-trick, joining Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo with the most in men’s internationals, the Argentine skipper scoring with a left-footed drive to take his tally to 112 goals for his country.
“It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people, it moves me how they shout my name,” Messi said.
“This drives me. Enjoying being happy where I am. Despite my age, when I’m here, I feel like a kid because I’m comfortable with this team. As long as I feel good and can keep performing the way I want, I’ll keep enjoying it.”
Argentina are top of the standings with 22 points, having returned to winning ways after losing to Colombia last month and drawing with Venezuela last week.
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
-Reuters
World Cup
Last-gasp Luiz Henrique effort gives Brazil 2-1 win at Chile
Lacklustre Brazil pulled off a last-gasp 2-1 away victory over Chile in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, thanks to a goal by substitute Luiz Henrique in the 89th minute.
Off the back of a disappointing loss to Paraguay and losing four of their last five qualifiers with a series of poor performances, Brazil had to recover from a goal down as Eduardo Vargas put the locals in front with a fine header from a Felipe Loyola cross in the second minute.
Chile wasted chances to extend their lead, but Brazil managed to find the equaliser in added time before the break, when Savinho made a good run down the right and crossed to Igor Jesus who nodded a towering header past the goalkeeper, scoring on his first call-up for the national team.
Brazil controlled the second half and found a duly deserved winner late with a fine effort by Jesus’ teammate at Brazilian league leaders and Copa Libertadores semi-finalists Botafogo Luiz Henrique, who slotted a curling strike from the edge of the box to rescue the five-time World Cup champions three much needed points.
The victory lifted Brazil to fourth in the standings with 13 points, two behind Uruguay and eight from leaders Argentina. Chile are second from bottom on five points.
Earlier on Thursday, leaders Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw against Venezuela in Lionel Messi’s return to international duty from an injury.
The Argentine captain brilliantly assisted Nicolas Otamendi on a drenched pitch to open the scoring 13 minutes after kick-off, but a relentless Venezuela fought back to equalise with a Salomon Rondon’s header in the second half.
In-form Bolivia grabbed a gritty 1-0 win, their third successive victory, handing second-placed Colombia their first loss in the qualifiers.
Trying to end a 13-game winless run against their opponents, Bolivia started well but had to play most of the game with 10 men as Hector Cuellar was sent off with a straight red card for bringing striker Roger Martinez down as the last man in the 20th minute.
However, the fierce locals managed to find the winner in a stunning strike by Miguel Terceros, who dominated near the right touchline, cutting inside to beat two Colombian defenders before unleashing a fine left-footed strike that flew into the top-left corner in the 58th minute
Argentina are on top of the standings on 19 points, three ahead of Colombia and four from third-place Uruguay, who have a game in hand and will face last-placed Peru on Friday.
Brazil climbed to fourth, leapfrogging Ecuador, who are in fifth place on 12 points following a goalless draw against Paraguay.
Bolivia are behind Ecuador on goal difference in sixth, followed by Venezuela with a point behind in seventh. Only the top six are guaranteed a berth at the 2026 finals.
-Reuters
World Cup
Venezuela hold Argentina to 1-1 draw on Messi’s return
Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Thursday in Lionel Messi’s return to international duty in the South America’s World Cup qualifiers.
Captain Messi, 37, fully recovered from an injury sustained in the Copa America final against Colombia in July, was brilliant in setting up Otamendi on a drenched pitch to open the scoring 13 minutes after kick-off, which was delayed by half an hour due to heavy rain.
Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, filling in for Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez, who is serving a two-match ban for offensive behaviour, produced a fine performance to keep out Salomon Rondon’s first-half efforts.
However, the determined Venezuelan striker equalised in the second half with an exceptional header from a Yeferson Soteldo’s cross to temporarily move his team to sixth in the standings with 11 points.
Argentina sought a winner after boss Lionel Scaloni introduced Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez five minutes from time, but the soggy pitch only increased the World Cup winners’ shortcomings.
“It was an ugly match. We couldn’t even make two passes in a row, the ball stopped because of the water on the pitch. It is difficult to play in these conditions, the pitch did not help,” Messi told TyC Sports after the game.
“The best conditions for us to play is that there is a good pitch, good weather, that the ball runs. We don’t ask for much, do we?” added defender Rodrigo De Paul.
Argentina remain top of the standings with 19 points and will face Bolivia on Tuesday, while Venezuela visit Paraguay.
-Reuters
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