PICTURE SPECIAL: The ball Ronaldo, Gerrard, Lampard and Fabregas hope to be kicking to Euro glory in

16 March 2009 17:06
Here's the ball that Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal hope to be using in May's European Cup Final.[LNB]The adidas 'Finale Rome' was unveiled in the Eternal City by former Roma player Rudi Voller and Bruno Giordano, once of Lazio, in the shadow of the Colosseum.[LNB] Enlarge [LNB]La palla: The adidas Finale Rome ball in front of the Colosseum[LNB]Legend: Former Roma and Germany striker Rudi Voller [LNB]It features the stars commonly associated with the standard Champions League ball, but takes a palette inspured by the traditional Roman colour burgundy with gold detailing around the stars. [LNB]Mosaic figures representing key sporting and Roman values such as speed, teamwork, justice and power are featured in each star.[LNB]The ball will be used at the final in the Olympic Stadium on May 27, with at least one English team likely to get to grips with it.[LNB] Still got it: Voller and former Lazio player Bruno Giordano try out the new ball[LNB]The Barclays Premier League Big Four are all in the hat for Friday's quarter-final draw in Nyon, along with Villarreal, FC Porto, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.[LNB]According to the science garb, the ball is based on that used at Euro 2008 and features 'the innovative surface structure PSC-Texture'.[LNB]It carries on (an no, this isn't in Italian): 'This surface structure allows players to control and direct the ball perfectly in all weather conditions.[LNB] Grand unveiling: Voller, Giordano and assistants unveil the ball[LNB] [LNB]'The PSC-Texture consists of a sophisticated and extremely fine structure on the ball's outer skin that guarantees optimum grip between ball and boot. [LNB]'Due to the usage of this material, the ball texture feels like goose bumps. The adidas Finale Rome is constructed out of 14 panels using revolutionary Thermal Bonding Technology.'[LNB][LNB][LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail