All yours, selfie-lovers!įor this generation, the official anthem of a FIFA World Cup would bring to mind a handsome Ricky Martin going Ale! Ale! Ale! Or, more recently, Shakira swaying to Waka Waka. The FIFA introduces him thus, “He might be the youngest player in the squad, but you won’t find anyone faster, bolder or more skilful with a football.” The “joker in the pack” also loves to pose for photos, it seems. Zabivaka is always seen wearing orange sports glasses along with a pair of red shorts and a white T-shirt with blue sleeves-the official colours of the Russian flag. The wolf was followed by the tiger (27 per cent) and the cat (20 per cent). Zabivaka, which was designed by a student Ekaterina Bocharova, got 53 per cent of the over one million votes that were cast over a month on the FIFA website. That's what the name of the mascot-Zabivaka-means in Russian. The Rostov Arena, with the official mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Zabivaka seen in the foreground, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia | Reuters And to think the logo has been compared to a Powerpuff Girl! The human figures, with arms raised in celebration and trying to reach for the stars symbolise the players and fans. Quite fittingly, it was launched through a countdown from Russia's International Space Station, and was projected at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Add to these the stars, with a “fairytale glitter and sparkle” and the whole logo has an other-worldly appeal. The dynamic propulsion, too, is symbolic of the take-off of a spaceship. The 'magic ball' at the top not only signifies the love for football but is also a homage to Sputnik-world's first artificial satellite. The trophy-shaped logo uses red and blue (colours of the Russian flag), gold and black colours brilliantly. The inspiration was “drawn from both Russia’s rich artistic tradition and its history of bold achievement and innovation”. This year, however, there's a bit of 'magic' (and a bit of cosmic touch, if we may add) in it. The logo four years ago for Brazil 2014 was bit of a let down. Adidas came under fire for Jabulani-the 2010 World Cup ball-which was termed a “beach ball” by Spain captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas.ĭesigned by Lisbon-based Brandia Central, the logo of the FIFA World Cup 2018 is a class apart. Reina, in fact has predicted around “35 goals from long range”. While Reina suggested changing it while there's “still time”, ter Stegen has resigned to his fate. The ball, they complain, moves in strange ways and is difficult to grip because it is covered in a “plastic film”. Top international custodians like Spain's David de Gea and Pepe Reina, and Germany's Marc-André ter Stegen have been critical of the Telstar 18. For all the innovation, the ball has not impressed the goalkeepers one bit. “It also includes an embedded NFC chip, which enables consumers to interact with the ball using a smartphone,” says the FIFA website. The original Telstar had 32 panels-the new one has only six, and they are not stitched but glued together. It is a reloaded avatar of the match ball of the 1970 World Cup. Nothing grabs more attention in a World Cup than the official match ball. Here's a look at some of the elements that define the FIFA World Cup 2018: The world's largest country is hosting the football extravaganza for the first time, and so, it is leaving no stone unturned to make it a grand spectacle.
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