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4 months ago
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A different ball will be used for the Euro 2024 semi-finals and final, with Adidas revealing the FUSSBALLLIEBEFINALE.
The main difference is the primary colour of the ball, which is now silver and not white, to represent the silverware on offer.
In 2021, Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel claimed he would have saved Harry Kane's penalty in the Euro 2020 semi-final if the match ball was the same as they used earlier in the tournament, claiming that the new one was like a 'bar of soap'.
'The silver semi-final ball was different,' Schmeichel told Mail Sport in 2022.
'When I got it in my hands in training I was like: "Woah! This is tricky". When the ball is slippery. it changes how you play the game.'
This is the ball that will be used during the semi-finals and final of UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany
The predominantly white match ball (pictured) that was used during the first 48 games of Euro 2024 has been replaced in a pre-planned move by UEFA and Adidas
Kasper Schmeichel pictured with the silver ball used during the latter stages of Euro 2020
An Adidas spokesperson said: 'The silver colour of the ball has been specially developed and tested to ensure that it stands out on the pitch without reflecting light back off the surface.
'The new ball has undergone extensive testing in adidas labs, wind tunnels, and on-pitch scenarios to ensure it meets the highest performance standards.
'This includes blind testing with professional and grassroots teams worldwide to verify that the technology inside the ball does not affect its performance.
'As with all competition match balls it is FIFA Quality Pro certified, indicating it has passed stringent quality and performance criteria.'
The new Adidas ball is silver to match the colour of the European Championship trophy
Fans will see the new ball in action for the first time when Spain play France on Tuesday night
The ball, which will be used for the first time in the semi-final between Spain and France on Tuesday, features Connected Ball technology.
This technology delivers precise ball data to video match officials in real-time and, through combining player position data with AI, the innovation contributes to UEFA's semi-automated offside technology.
An Adidas spokesperson added: 'As with a number of past international tournaments, adidas has released a ball in the final rounds to highlight the significance of these fixtures.
'The teams competing with this ball are within touching distance of glory, so we wanted the ball for the most decisive games to really stand-out from the rest of the tournament and to almost embody the silver of the trophy they are competing for.'
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