With the domestic season in Europe coming to a close in Cardiff last weekend attentions turned to the international scene this week as we pick out our selection of the hottest boots on show. Unreleased blackout boots, custom colourways and the odd throwback. It's Monday, we go again.
Filip Kostic (Serbia) Nike Tiempo Legend 6
Serbia and Wales played out a 1-1 draw in Belgrade on Sunday night to keep their hopes of World Cup Qualification alive. The pick of the boot spotting action came from Serbia's Hamburger winger Filip Kostic who was wearing a complete whiteout edition of the Nike Tiempo Legend 6. Kostic has logged on to NikeiD taken one look at the opening screen and added it straight to his basket. Effortlessly clean.
Hotaru Yamaguchi (Japan) Nike Magista Obra II
Hotaru Yamaguchi put a bit more time and effort into his NikeiD customisation this week as the Japan midfielder whipped up a blue and volt edition of the Magista Obra II. Japan shared a 1-1 draw with Syria during their international friendly before they return to World Cup Qualifying action against Iraq on Tuesday.
Keisuke Honda (Japan) Mizuno
Keisuke Honda provided a glimpse of the next-generation Mizuno project in the friendly against Syria. The AC Milan midfielder and leading Mizuno athlete switched out of the current Wave Ignitus model and into a blacked out boot with subtle Mizuno branding on the heel. On first inspection there appears to be a lack of the rubber fins that are synonymous with the Wave Ignitus, indicating that Honda could be wearing a new silo entirely.
Pepe (Portugal) Umbro
Pepe joined Honda in unreleased blackout boots this week as he switched into a prototype of Umbro's next concept. The Portugal defender who is set to leave Real Madrid this summer is eyeing up a new adventure away from Spain and whichever logo he has on his chest next season you can be sure that it'll be the Double Diamond on his boots. Pepe has been wearing the Medusae silo, so we'd expect this blackout to be a second-generation of that.
Julian Draxler (Germany) adidas Nemeziz 17+ 360 Agility
The international fixtures provided a chance to the wider adidas Nemeziz team this week. The boot which was launched ahead of the Champions League Final didn't make it onto the pitch in Cardiff but more players have committed to the Nemeziz trend this week as Julian Draxler joins the likes of Lionel Messi and Roberto Firmino in the laceless technology.
Kyle Walker-Peters (England) adidas Glitch 17
Kyle Walker-Peters helped England win the U20 World Cup on Sunday in South Korea. The Tottenham Hotspur full back put in a fine performance in the 1-0 win over Venezuela wearing the adidas Glitch 17 football boots. The only England player to win a World Cup wearing a laceless boot made up of two interchangeable pieces. Unless they had them back in 1966? Pretty sure they didn't.
Memphis Depay (Netherlands) Under Armour Spotlight
There was more laceless technology on show in the Netherlands this week as Memphis Depay slipped into the next generation Under Armour Spotlight as his side beat Luxembourg 5-0 on Friday evening. The unreleased boot is dressed with unique innovations as the American brand put their own spin on how a laceless football boot should work. The most intriguing feature is what appears to be a zip construction running down the top of the foot.
Tayron (Tenerife) Nike Mercurial Superfly V
Tenerife's Tayron got in on the customisation game as he created a smart black, red and yellow edition of the Nike Mercurial Superfly V. That pink Hummel kit takes some topping but Tayron's slick three-colour combo was definitely amongst the better personalised colourways on show this week.
Daniel Lasure (Real Zaragoza) adidas Predator LZ
Real Zaragoza's Daniel Lasure took things back to November 2013 to wear the adidas Predator LZ in "Solar Pink" on Saturday. Released as part of the Samba Pack in the build up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the bold all-pink upper was topped off with hi-vis laces and the Samba patterned tongue to create a vibrant design on the penultimate Predator model.
