adidas F50 adiZero Prime

One of adidas' first soccer boot launches of 2011  is the much-awaited F50 adiZero Prime - now the world's lightest soccer shoe. The new adidas F50 adiZero Prime is the second generation of the adidas F50 adiZero boot that was launched in the Spring of 2010. The shoe went on to becoming the top scoring boot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is now a favorite among professional players such as Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Daniel Alves, David Silva, David Villa, Samir Nasri, Thomas Müller, Asamoah Gyan, Salomon Kalou, Arjen Robben, Nani, Diego Forlán and Gareth Bale.

Weighing in at only 5.1 oz., the adidas F50 adiZero Prime TRX takes 0.7 oz. off the F50 adiZero and is 0.2 oz. lighter than the previous lightest boot in the world, the PUMA v1.10 SL.

The shoe is developed on a high-speed last with an adiLite single layer design (no foam, no lining) that is soft, lightweight yet extremely durable. It features durable Kevlar laces, an inner contrast-color TPU support bands for stability. The adidas F50 adiZero Prime has two sockliner options, one ultralight and one comfort TPU Sprintframe outsole with Traxion for acceleration and speed and comes with a shoe bag, extra laces and shoe cloth.

Here's a detailed look at the current colorways of the adidas F50 adiZero Prime (Black/White/Electricity and Warning/Black/White) along with video of reigning FIFA World Player of the Year and FC Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi juggling the new boot.

The adidas F50 adiZero Prime soccer boot is now available at the World Soccer Shop adidas Footwear Store.

2011 Carling Cup Final Preview

Arsenal and Birmingham City clash on Sunday, February 27th in the final of the 2011 Carling Cup (also called the League Cup by many) at Wembley Stadium.  The Gunners are seeking their first silverware since a then Thierry Henry-led squad won the 2005 F.A. Cup. Meanwhile, Birmingham is looking for its first title since it won the old Third Division and Football League Trophy (a completion for third and fourth tier English Football League teams) in 1995.

Here is the World Soccer Shop Blog Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to 2011 Carling Cup preview.

Road to the Final

Arsenal
Over the years, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has used to Carling Cup to give fringe and young Gunners competitive runouts. He did start this year’s completion in the same manner but as Arsenal progressed looked like contenders for the cup, Wenger has increasingly fielded his first team regulars.

The Gunners faced and defeated Premier League opposition (including fierce rivals Tottenham) in the first three rounds of the Carling Cup before suffering a shock defeat to Championship side Ipswich Town in the first leg of the semi-finals. However, Arsenal summarily dispatched with the Tractor Boys 3-0 in the return leg to book a spot in the final.

September 21, 2010: Tottenham 1 – Arsenal 4 (Carling Cup Round 3)
October 27, 2010: Newcastle United 0 – Arsenal 4 (Carling Cup Round 4)
November 30, 2010: Arsenal 2 – Wigan 0 (Carling Cup Quarter-Finals)
January 12, 2011: Ipswich Town 1 – Arsenal 0 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)
January 25, 2011: Arsenal 3 - Ipswich Town 0 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)

Birmingham City
Without the same quality of reserve players as Arsenal, Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish fielded teams featuring a mix of first team regulars and fringe players early in the cup. As the Brummies move through the rounds the first teamers that feature for the club in English Premier League matches were also starting in Carling Cup fixtures.

The club faced lower league opposition until meeting local rivals Aston Villa in the quarter-finals followed by Premier League strugglers West Ham in the semi-finals.

August 26, 2010: Birmingham 3 – Rochdale 2 (Carling Cup Round 1)
September 21, 2010: Birmingham 3 – Milton Keynes Dons 1 (Carling Cup Round 3)
October 26, 2010: Birmingham 1 – Brentford 1. Birmingham won 4-3 on penalties. (Carling Cup Round 4)
December 1, 2010: Birmingham 2 – Aston Villa 1 (Carling Cup Quarter-Finals)
January 11, 2011: West Ham 2 – Birmingham 1 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)
January 26, 2011: Birmingham 3- West Ham 1 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)

Form Guide

Arsenal is currently in fine form having defeated FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League last week and battling it out with Manchester United for top spot in the Premier League. Birmingham, on the other hand, sits towards the bottom of the league table and just three points out of the relegation zone.

There are the last five results for both clubs.

Arsenal
February 23, 2011: Arsenal 1 – Stoke City 0
February 20, 2011: Leyton Orient 1 – Arsenal 1
February 16, 2011: Arsenal 2 – FC Barcelona 1
February 12, 2011: Arsenal 2  - Wolverhampton 0
February 5, 2011: Newcastle United 4 – Arsenal 4

Birmingham City
February 19, 2011: Birmingham 3 – Sheffield Wednesday 0 (FA Cup)
February 15, 2011: Birmingham 0 – Newcastle United 2 (English Premier League)
February 12, 2011: Birmingham 1 – Stoke City 0 (English Premier League)
February 6, 2011: West Ham 0 – Birmingham 1 (English Premier League)
February 2, 2011: Birmingham 2- Manchester City 2 (English Premier League)

Head to Head (Last Two Seasons)

January 1, 2011: Birmingham 0 - Arsenal 3 (English Premier League)
October 16, 2010: Arsenal 2 - Birmingham 1 (English Premier League)
March 27, 2010: Birmingham 1 - Arsenal 1 (English Premier League)
October 17, 2009: Arsenal 3 - Birmingham 1 (English Premier League)

Where to Watch

In the United States, you can see the 2011 Carling Cup Final live on Fox Soccer Channel at 11:00 AM Eastern Time on February 27th.

Injuries

Arsenal – Manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that England international Theo Walcott will miss the Carling Cup final with an ankle sprain picked up during Wednesday’s Premier League win over Stoke City.

Birmingham - Midfielder Alexander Hleb may miss the Carling Cup final following an injury to his knee in Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Photo Credits: Getty Images

Celebrity Soccer Fans

Over the years soccer has had its fair share of celebrity fans in its hotbeds of Europe and South America. RomCom king and Fulham fan Hugh Grant, former Brentford FC apprentice Rod Stewart, one-time Watford FC chairman Sir Elton John, Italian actress and lifelong AS Roma fan Sabrina Ferelli, and Oasis rockers and Manchester City supporters Noel and Liam Gallagher are among the pop culture luminaries who have been regulars in executive boxes at stadiums around the world over the years. Now as soccer is at arguably its most popular level ever in the United States, a new generation of celebrity A-List soccer fan has emerged.

Kim Kardashian at a Chelsea FC Club Party

The most visibly and outspoken of America’s current celebrity soccer fans is comedian and actor Drew Carey. A well-known fan of the United States National Soccer Team, Carey could be spotted in the photographers’ box at U.S. matches at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. He has since gone on to become a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders F.C. and is a regular in the fan March to the Match through the streets of Seattle to Sounders home games at Quest Field.

Will Ferrell meets Chelsea captain John Terry

NBA All Star, future Hall of Famer and current Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash joins Carey as the other A-List Major League Soccer owner. A gifted soccer player in his own right, Nash gave his full support to the Vancouver’s effort to land Canada’s second MLS franchise in the form of the Vancouver Whitecaps F.C. He went on to become a majority owner of the team and holds the annual Showdown in Chinatown charity soccer match that has attracted players like Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea F.C.), Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan) and Ryan Babel (Liverpool F.C.) over the past few years.



Soccer’s popularity among the Hollywood set is also evident in the A-Listers that big matches on U.S. shores now attract. For instance, David Beckham’s first match with the L.A. Galaxy in 2007 attracted big names such as Alicia Silverstone, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Meanwhile, when Chelsea F.C. hits the West coast for pre-season action, their club parties and matches become hot tickets with everyone from Kim Kardashian to Will Ferrell to Charlize Theron.

Charlize Theron gets a Chelsea FC jersey

With the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and other world class soccer leagues now beaming into U.S. homes via television and over the internet, soccer is now more readily accessible than ever before. Led by players like Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo (now regulars on E! TV’s nightly news reports), it is also now an integral part of popular culture around the world and, increasingly, in the United States. Thus it is of little surprise that we are seeing more soccer fans, including celebrities, than ever.

Hugh Grant at the 2010 Europa League Final

Photo Credits: Getty Images

PUMA PowerCat 1.10 Tokyo Soccer Boots

Sportswear giant PUMA has released a new colorway of the popular PowerCat 1.10 (or PWR-C 1.10) soccer boots . The innovative boot is inspired by the style, popular culture and bright lights of Tokyo, Japan. Fittingly, the boot also incorporates some of the latest soccer boot technology that has seen the likes of Republic of Ireland and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given and England and Manchester City midfielder Michael Carrick favoring the PWR-C 1.10 in recent times.

According to PUMA:

The PowerCat 1.10 Tokyo is the perfect combination of engineering and comfort in a striking design. The injected PUMA 3D Power Shooting Technology (PUMA 3D PST), the fresh Cat branding, and the super soft and thin premium microfiber make the PowerCat 1.10 Graphic the boot of choice for true football players who want stand out on the pitch. 

The PUMA PowerLast and the stable yet flexible outsole create a snug and comfortable fit whilst the dual density external heel counter provides protection against outer forces.

The PowerCat 1.10 uses PUMA 3D Power Shooting Technology which delivers unique rebound properties. The Springtech foam in the shark-like gills on the side of the boot are engineered to enhance every shot by putting extra power behind the ball as it catapults off the shoe. This means the boot intentionally does not absorb the typical amount of energy upon impact with the ball, allowing more power to be released with every shot.

The kicking area is made of a soft, thin leather and a synthetic microfiber around the quarter area, keeping the boot lightweight and easy to perform in. The bladed studs are configured to ensure smooth ground penetration and pressure distribution as well as maximum traction and maneuverability.

Check out the World Soccer Shop PUMA soccer cleats section for more on the PUMA PowerCat 1.10 Tokyo and other PUMA boots.

Photos courtesy of PUMA.

 

Photos: Mexico vs. Bosnia in Atlanta, GA

We were at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA along with over 50,000 others soccer fans last night for the big Mexico - Bosnia and Herzegovina international friendly. While making the rounds in the Dome, we ran into an assortment of electric fans of both teams, a ton of soccer-loving neutrals, model / sportscaster Ingrid Sainz and former Mexico national team goalkeeper Jorge Campos (both of whom graciously posed for pictures for us).

Here are a few pictures from last night's festivities for those of you who weren't there and for those of you who were and want to relive some of the good times had by all.