Football Boots: International Boot Spotting - Midweek Update
A midweek update from our roving boot spotters, who took in the best of the international action and reported back with any interesting spots. We've got Messi wearing his brand new Gold boots, players switching their boots, and even a player wearing a take-down version of the Mercurial range...
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Lionel Messi (Argentina) adidas F50 adizero |
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The talk all week has been about Messi wearing his new Gold leather adizero football boots, and the World Player of the Year didn't disappoint. Messi was in great form as Argentina swept World Champions Spain aside 4-1! Messi was also on target as he expertly scooped the ball over the oncoming keeper. |
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Marvin Ceballos (Guatemala) Nike Mercurial Glide |
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This is a boot spot that surprised us, and on second glance at the sole-plate, lace-cover and where the Swoosh finishes on the side, we can confirm that Guatemala's Ceballos was indeed sporting a pair of Nike Mercurial Glide football boots, which is an interesting boot choice. |
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Stephan Lichtsteiner (Switzerland) Puma v1.10 SL |
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We believe Lichtsteiner is the first European player to wear the Puma v1.10 SL football boots, and surprisingly he's a defender! We would normally associate the lightest football boots in the world with an attacking speed player, but Lichtsteiner clearly feels the boots benefit him in his position. |
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Karim Benzema (France) adidas F50 adizero |
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Karim Benzema is not only one of the few players to be wearing the synthetic versions of he adizero's, but he's also one of the few players to still be wearing the yellow versions. Benzema is back in the national side under new boss Laurent Blanc, and repaid his faith with the crucial opening goal. |
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Sascha Yunisoglu (Azerbaijan) Nike Vapor IV |
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Unfortunately for Azerbaijan, they were routed 6-1 by Germany, although we did spot Yunisoglu sporting an interesting pair of football boots. Yunisoglu was wearing a pair of the popular Nike Vapor IV football boots, but we noticed he has partially removed the lace-cover which we assume is just to access the laces. |
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Wayne Rooney (England) |
James McFadden (Scotland) |
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Rooney was on target for England to end his international goal drought, firing in a low drive form his T90 Laser football boots. |
McFadden has become the latest player to join the adizero club, changing out of the Predator boots he's worn for so long, and into the synthetics. |
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Darren Bent (England) |
Miralem Pjanic (Bosnia Herzegovina) |
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Umbro GT icon Darren Bent scored his first goal for England wearing the Speciali football boots! Bent had probably his best season last year wearing Speciali's, so we're not surprised he's reluctant to change. |
Pjanic is a great set-piece taker, and it seems for this reason David Beckham has become his icon. Pjanic often wears the latest Beckham colourways, and was doing so again as he faced France. |
Boot spotting this week comes from the international action from around the globe, featuring a variety of new and old boots, as well as customised sole-plates and customised colourways...
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Mamadou Sakho (France) Nike CTR360 Maestri |
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From the distinctive haircut we knew this could only be Mamadou Sakho we caught a glimpse of at the France game, sporting a bespoke pair of Nike CTR360 football boots. Sakho's boots match the colours of his club PSG, but are also a subtle match for the French national colours. |
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Christian Benitez (Ecuador) adidas adiPure III |
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Benitez has recently been wearing an old pair of adidas Predator Absolute football boots, but now it seems they were just a stand-in boot until his new adiPure's arrived. In bright yellow to reflect his Ecuador shirt, these adidas adiPure III boots are really quite stunning and certainly stand-out on pitch! |
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Dani Alves (Brazil) Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly |
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There was initial excitement as out boot spotters reported that Dani Alves was wearing a pair of black-out boots during training. However, further investigation revealed that Alves was sporting his original blacked-out Superfly football boots, but even though they're not a new boot we still think these versions look cool. |
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Sami Khedira (Germany) Nike CTR360 Maestri |
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Not only is Khedira not wearing the Elite versions of the CTR360 Maestri's, but he isn't even wearing the regular sole-plate. Instead it looks like Khedira has requested the sole-plate from the Nike Legend football boots, which doesn't surprise us as Khedira is a former Legend wearer. |
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Xavi (Spain) adidas Predator X |
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Xavi has never seemed comfortable in the adidas Predator X boots, and was only last week playing in Predator PowerSwerve's. Well now the Spanish playmaker is back in the Predator X, wearing the Champions League versions and it looks as if he has also kept the Predator element, which he's had removed from previous boots. |
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Marc Bernaus (Andorra) |
Erion Bogdani (Albania) |
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Andorra's Marc Bernaus was playing against Russia wearing the classic orange Nike Vapor IV football boots, as previously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo these versions were a big hit with Vapor fans. |
Chievo's Bogdani, who recently switched out of Nike Legend into adiZero, is one of the few players we've spotted wearing the white/black/pink colourway, who hasn't blacked-out the pink. |
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Phil Jagielka (England) |
Raul Meireles (Portugal) |
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Quite a unique occasion for the Umbro Stealth football boots, because when Gary Cahill joined Phil Jagielka in defence, the England central defensive partnership were both wearing Stealth Pro's, and they also kept a clean sheet. |
New Liverpool signing Raul Meireles was in action for Portugal wearing the Puma v1.10 football boots, a unique boot choice for a central midfielder. Meireles was also on the scoresheet in this great game which ended Portugal 4-4 Cyprus! |
If there are any players and boots you've spotted and think should feature on this page, mail us at: u2us@soccerbible.com putting 'Boot Spotting' in the subject field.
