Its amazing to believe that we’re a mere 6 months out from the 2016 European championships, to be held in France 2016. With that in mind Adidas, official ball partner for the tournament have today revealed their ball for it – the “Beau Jeu”, which translates into the ‘beautiful game’.
The beautiful game, the moniker oft-given to the sport is befitting considering the European championships are often considered to be the best tournament, beating even the football extravaganza that is the World Cup, especially for European nations. The smaller and more condensed format, the competitiveness of the teams that this brings with it and the thus the quality of the tournament has led to some iconic championships. Who in the UK will ever forget the magical Euro 96, when England came so close to glory on home soil?
For France, this represents a return of championship football to the home of their greatest hour, the France 98 World Cup, where they won their first and to date only World Cup on home soil. Its fitting then that they rolled out their most legendary player, the catalyst for that glory, Zinedine Zidane. Considered by many of his peers, David Beckham amongst them, to be perhaps the greatest player of them all, Zidane was the unabated star of that 1998 team. He inspired their glory that followed in Euro 2000, and stated that “I am proud to unveil ‘Beau Jeu’, the official match for Euro 2016 from adidas football.’
More importantly, what is the tech like in the ball?
Well, for a starter, this ball has been in development for over a year and a half. They were inspired by perhaps their most famous football, the Brazuca World cup ball, but – according to an Adidas press release – “and added a French touch of class in time for the Euros.”
The ball is considered to offer “improved grip and enhanced in-flight visibility respectively”.