Mixed reaction to World Cup's new ball

The World Cup ball was billed as the world’s perfectly round football, made with thermally bonded, spherically moulded, 3D panels.

But it has already been dismissed by one goalkeeper as being “like one of those balls you buy in the supermarket”.

Adidas said the ball’s “radical” new “grip ’n’ groove” technology, tested by scientists at Loughborough University, allows “exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions”.

And England’s Frank Lampard was among those singing its praises when it was launched, saying: “A very strong ball, true to hit.”

But Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar clearly disagrees.

“It’s terrible, horrible,” he said.

“It’s like one of those balls you buy in the supermarket.”

Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini also criticised the ball for being unpredictable.

“The balls are a disaster, both for goalkeepers and attackers,” he said.

The ball is named “jabulani” from the Zulu word for “to celebrate”.

Zulu is one of 11 official languages in South African and its 11 colours represent the 11 players and the 11 diverse communities.

It is not the first time the World Cup ball has come in for criticism.

In Germany in 2006 England goalkeeper Paul Robinson described the Adidas Teamgeist as a “water-polo ball”.

And in 2002 Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon blasted the Adidas Fevernova as being like a “ridiculous kiddies’ bouncing ball”.