FIFA Worldcup Footballs ! Goals did we get them ? ?
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There have been a lot of talk about the official ball being used now by the FIFA for the World Cup. It is named ‘Jabulani’. Whats so special about the ball. Goalkeepers call it ‘rubbish‘, ‘heavy‘, ‘useless‘, ‘unpredictable‘ and even an Australian Physics Professor Derek Leinweber confirmed it through a research and said the ball was faster and turns unpredictably. Jabulani could ‘dip’ and ‘swerve’ anytime making it unpredictable.
He further stated, “The Jabulani is almost perfectly round and is designed to have all this turbulence around it. It will be coming at goalkeepers faster and harder and doing a lot of things differently to what is normally expected.”
FIFA Standards / Jabulani Ball Stats
| Feature | FIFA Reg. | Jabulani | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 420-445g | 440g | Heavy |
| Circumference | 68.5-69.5 | 69.0 +/- 0.2 | Average |
| Roundness | 1.5% Variance | 1.0% | Good |
| Water Absorption | Max 10% | 0% | Amazing |
| Bounce Variance | 10cm | 6cm | Good |
| Leakage | 20% from 3 days | 10% | Excellent |
Source : Adidas
The table proves jabulani is a ball that is well within the FIFA standards. This table shows that the molding technique means the ball retains its shape, and the lack of seaming means there is essentially zero water retention, which will reduce sluggishness of the ball if South Africa defies the odds and rains throughout the World Cup. Scientists at Adidas said the following
The weight is interesting – being towards the higher end of the allowed scale means the flight will be truer and more predictable making keepers happy, but also rewarding accuracy for strikers.
But has balls made for scoring goals really worked in the past ? ?
Lets look at match balls used in the previ0us WCs.
Previous records of using match balls at the world cups :
We have to account the 1966 World Cup, wherein different type of football was used for the last time in the world cup.
Number of games 32
Total Goals scored 89
Average per game 2,78
1970:
Telestar, an Adidas product for 1970 WC made its debut. And the ‘buckminister fullerene’ type ball produced instant effect as the average goals per game increased tremendously. Nice shape, great goals.
Telestar
Number of games 32
Total Goals scored 95
Average per game 2,97
1974:
The telestar continued to be used with slight modifications in the materials used. And there was a drop in the number of goals/per match mainly attributed to ‘Total Football‘ concept followed by the Dutch. Ball Control was the order of the day instead of scoring goals.
Telestar Durlast
Number of games 38
Total Goals scored 97
Average per game 2,55
1978:
Tango replaced telestar and was dynamic in design and motion and produced more goals than its predecessor. Kempes made Tango a delight under his legs.
Number of games 38
Total Goals scored 102
Average per game 2,68
1982: Tango Espana
Adidas introduced a new ball which had rubber inlaid over the seams to prevent water from seeping through. The first ball with water-resistant qualities. General wear from kicking however meant the rubber began to wear after a short time and needed to be replaced during the game. The last genuine leather world cup ball. With a new format and more hungry teams for goals the tango was modified very little and teams had practiced with it, the result -> Goals !!
Total number of games 52
Total goals scored 146
Average per game 2,81
1986: Azteca
The worldcup now headed to Mexico and the ball was named Azteca, but failed to live upto its reputation as there was dearth of goals but some scintillating football during the final stages of the WC.
Total number of games 52
Total goals scored 132
Average per game 2,54
1990: The Etrvsco
was used in Italia ’90 and improved defending or whatever produced the least avg no. of goals throughout the WC history !! 
This was the first time an internal layer was used in the ball. This new technology might have caused the less numbers in goals.
Number of games 52
Total Goals scored 115
Average per game 2,21
1994: Questra
FIFA World Cup USA, 1994, official ball which was enveloped in a layer of polystyrene foam. This not only made it more waterproof but allowed the ball greater acceleration when kicked. The new game ball felt softer to the touch. Improved ball control and higher velocity during play, provided the much needed fireworks that lacked in the previous WC.
Number of games 52
Total Goals scored 141
Average per game 2,71
1998: Tricolore
By 1998,FIFA World Cup France was played with a ball which sported the French red-white-blue tri-color. A complete departure from the old traditional black and white pattern. The first official World Cup colored soccer ball. The TRICOLORE used underglass print technology with a thin layer of syntactic foam.
Number of games 64
Total Goals scored 171
Average per game 2,67
2002: Fevernova
For FIFA World Cup Korea Japan, 2002, Adidas created a new ball made up of thicker inner layers to increase the accuracy of the ball in flight. There was more turn in the ball as one could observe a Rivaldo’s top corner Vs Belgium.
Number of games 64
Total Goals scored 161
Average per game 2,52
2006: Teamgeist
- Circumference: The FIFA Approved Standard: 68.5 cm – 69.5 cm. The adidas +Teamgeist: 69.0 cm – 69.25 cm
- Diameter: FIFA Approved Standard: max. 1.5% difference The adidas +Teamgeist: max. 1.0% difference
- Water Absorption: FIFA Approved Standard: no more than 10% weight increase. The adidas +Teamgeist: Water absorption: no more than 0,1 % weight increase
- Weight: FIFA Approved Standard: Weight between 420 and 445 grams The adidas +Teamgeist: Weight between 441 and 444 grams
- Shape and Size Retention: FIFA Approved Standard: 2,000 cycles at 50 km per hour. The adidas +Teamgeist: 3,500 cycles at 50 km per hour.
- Rebound Test: FIFA Approved Standard: No more than 10 cm. The adidas +Teamgeist: No more than 2 cm.
- Loss of Pressure: FIFA Approved Standard: Loss of pressure max. 20% The adidas +Teamgeist: Loss of pressure max. 11%.
Number of games 64
Total Goals scored 147
Teamgeist
Average per game 2,30
And new technologies have proved that even though they might produce goals, they are deceptive. If you have observed, from 1994 USA the goals/match have been dwindling. We cannot attribute technology as the only cause, the defenders too deserve their credit. But is the change of technology in footballs worth it ? ?
Spectators need goals, but changing the balls continuously means players settle to one ball but before using it to the fullest, another ball is produced with latest research and breath-taking technology.
Going by everyone’s words, Jabulani is sure a goalkeeper’s nightmare, but only if players try to score !! And the first day of 2010 WC has ended with a mere 2 goals in 2 matches. Disappointing start, but that is how this world cup will be. Less number of goals at least until players settle. Wait for sometime till you get your goals. 
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Tags: Azteca, Balls, Durlast, Dynamics, Espana, Esrvsco, Fevernova, Football, Goal Drop, Goals, Jabulani, Jo'bulani, Questra, Soccer balls, South Africa, Tango, Teamgeist, Telestar, Tricolore, Worldcup, Worldcup Balls
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June 12, 2010 at 4:23 am
[...] FIFA Worldcup Footballs ! Goals did you get them ? ? « Entertaining … [...]
June 16, 2010 at 3:32 am
You mean to say that coz of the balls there ll be dearth of goals ? Yeah thats right. If the strikers don’t catch it right then there be no goals. Nice observation.