football
Füllkrug is looking forward to the European Championship ball: “Flying differently”
National player Niclas Füllkrug is looking forward to training with the European Championship ball. photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
The European Championship is getting closer. Today the German national players are training for the first time with the ball designed for the 2024 tournament. For Torgarant Füllkrug, the playing equipment is an essential component.
About football as a playground equipment Niclas Füllkrug might even write a scientific paper.
“Balls are underestimated. It is very important which ball you play with or how the ball is played,” reported the 30-year-old. In any case, the Dortmund center forward was pleased by the prospect of being able to train with the national team for the first time with the European Championship version for 2024.
“Brands do differ”
“The Adidas balls are often constructed quite similarly, often have a similar trajectory and a similar behavior on the pitch. But the individual brands do differ,” said Füllkrug. His former Bremen colleague Marvin Ducksch, who was sitting next to him during the remarks at the DFB press conference, certainly sees it similarly, said Füllkrug.
“As a free kick specialist, Duckschi will also confirm that there is a difference whether you play with a Derbystar, Adidas or Nike ball. They fly differently,” said Füllkrug. The new European Championship ball will be presented at 9 a.m. at a sponsorship event in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, the European Championship final venue on July 14th.
Also new at the presentation
In addition to tournament director Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer will also be there. The goalkeeper, who would like to play for the national team again next March after his long injury break, is of course particularly interested in the flight properties of the ball.
The DFB selection will use the playing equipment for the first time late this morning at the next training session in preparation for the European Championship test matches against Turkey on Saturday and three days later in Austria on the Frankfurt campus – goals from Füllkrug and Ducksch will certainly be included.