Bit of a battle off the bench this week, with several substitutes pulling out some absolute belters. Lot of love for Ivory Coast and Haiti as we once again round up the best new releases, throwback classics, custom creations, and special editions for this week’s Boot Spotting. Let’s see who made the cut…
Luis Suarez (Uruguay) PUMA Future 4.1
Things didn't quite pan out the way Uruguay striker Luis Suarez would've wanted when he debuted the PUMA "Anthem Pack" Future 4.1 in the Copa America this week. Having his opening penalty of the shootout against Peru saved, Uruguay lost 5-4 and exited the competition.
Ken Reichel (1 FC Union Berlin) PUMA ONE 5.1
Completing the "Anthem Pack" line up, which released this week, German defender Ken Reichel turned up for preseason training with his side 1 FC Union Berlin in the new PUMA ONE 5.1.
Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) Nike Mercurial Vapor NJR Silencio
Wilf Zaha came off the bench in Ivory Coast's 1-0 opening win against South Africa in the AFCON, and he did so wearing the Neymar signature 'Silencio' Mercurial.
Bagayoko Mamadou (Ivory Coast) Nike Mercurial Superfly VI
Sticking with Ivory Coast, and in their next match against Algeria it was defender Bagayoko Mamadou's turn to come off the bench with some fancy footwear, in the shape of some specially customised Mercurial Superflys.
Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast) adidas F50 adizero 99g CrazyLight
Remember when boot design was about making them as light as possible? That pretty much culminated in 2015 with the release of the adidas F50 adizero 99g CrazyLight – the first boot to weigh less than 100g. And that was Ivory Coast forward Maxwell Cornet's boot of choice when he came off the bench against Morocco.
Darren Mattocks (Jamaica) Nike Mercurial Superfly VI
Jamaican striker Darren Mattocks came off the bench to score the only goal of his side's Gold Cup quarter final against Panama, slotting from the spot in a pair of personalised Nike Mercurial Superflys.
Lalaina Nomenjanahary (Madagascar) Nike Mercurial Vapor XII
Lalaina Nomenjanahary, also known as Bolida, scored his side's opener against Nigeria in a 2-0 win in the AFCON. He wore a pair of Nike iD customised Mercurial Vapor XII, matching the core colour of the boot with his Nation's shirt colour, then adding some personal details.
Mohamed Yattara (Guinea) Nike Phantom VNM
Bagging a brace in Guinea's opening AFCON match against Burundi, Mohamed Yattara couldn't have been wearing a more fitting pair of boots, with the Auxerre frontman opting for the Nike "Euphoria Gold" Phantom VNM.
Ronald Matarrita (Costa Rica) Nike Phantom VSN
Bit of a two-fer here, with Costa Rica's Ronald Matarrita wearing a Nike iD personalised pair of Nike Phantom VSN, and he's flanked by Haiti's Mikael Centavo in some equally stunning Nike iD Mercurial GS. Centavo gets the win for matching his boots to Haiti's kit so well. Haiti also got the win in the match too.
Andrew Jean Baptiste (Haiti) adidas X 16.1
Sticking with Haiti, and defender Andrew Jean Baptiste took laceless to another level in his side's Gold Cup quarter final match against Canada, removing the laces from the X 16.1. Anyone want to tell him that you can get actual laceless boots? Something worked though, as Haiti completed an audacious comeback from 2-0 down to win the game 3-2.
Gunnersaurus (Arsenal) adidas Predator 19+
adidas launched their first Arsenal shirt of a new era this week, and they were also quick to kit out club mascot Gunnersaurus in the "302 Redirect" Predator 19+. To be fair, he could probably do a job in Arsenal's defence this season.
