World Cup Sidelights

We have all seen the clash of colors on the football field, now it is time to identify who wears the colored cleats and what brand their shoelaces are tied to.  The market will be dependent on which footballer the buying population will fancy and whatever they wear. 

Football’s big three international manufacturers – Adidas, Nike and Puma, feature hundreds of athletes representing their company at the 2014 World Cup.  Which firm will have the best team could be a big debate.

Team Puma - We’ve seen quite a number of guys wearing the mix-matched pink and blue cleats and they are an impressive group.  Gianluigi Buffon and Rui Patricio will alternate as goalies.  Defense will have Dante, Joao Pereira, Bacary Sagna, Giorgio Chiellini and Stephan Lichsteiner. The team has talent in the midfield and forward positions.  Check Marco Reus, Yaya Toure, Marco Verratti, Santi Casorla, Cesc Fabregas, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Oliver Giraud. Team Puma could be lacking in depth but together, this is still a devastating squad.

Team Adidas – Think offense and Adidas will give you Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Xavi, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Thomas Mueller, David Silva, Memut Osil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Angel di Maria, Diego Costa, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez. Defense will have Dani Alves, Xabi Alonso, Philipp Lahm, Leighton Baines, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcelo, Steven Gerrard and Daniele de Rossi.  Manuel Neuer and Iker Casillas tend the goals.

Team Adidas is firepower to the max.

Team Nike - This has a more balanced roster but it does not mean that Adidas and Puma are wanting.  Thibault Courtois and Tim Howard guards the net.  On defense, how about Gerard Pique, Luca Modric, Eden Hazard, Mario Goetze, Andrea Pirlo, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Pepe, David Luiz, Pablo Zabaleta, Michael Bradley and Wesley Sneijder. Nike’s big names are the strikers – Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Wayne Rooney, Francj Ribery, Gonzalo Higuain, Danny Welbeck and Didier Drogba.

Adidas versus Nike versus Puma.  Which team has the better talent?