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Adidas Euro 2012 Tango 12 Official Match Ball

Comment: 0 January 26th, 2012

Early last month adidas and UEFA unleashed the adidas Tango 12, the official match ball for the upcoming Euro 12 competition to kick off this June.

Released to the public early December in Kyiv, this new reincarnation stands as 11^th official Euro ball by adidas, and took two years to develop.  It was said to have been tested on the field by both grassroots and high-profile players.

DESIGN

The 4^th of its line, the Tango 12 brandishes a design similar to its predecessors which have graced the UEFA Euro tournaments, as well as the FIFA World Cup.  Its overall look however suggests a more modern feel, with its triangular panels surrounded by multi-coloured borders representing the flags of the Euro 2012 host nations Poland and Ukraine.

Further highlighting the two countries’ joint efforts are the three graphics that according to adidas are meant to celebrate the art of vytynanka, or paper cutting – a craft that is common to both countries.  Furthermore these bespoke graphics are meant to represent unity, rivalry and passion – altogether seen as the main characteristics of the sport of football.

Also prominently displayed on the panel is the “bloom” flower of the official UEFA Euro 12 logo, an element that features one flower for each of the two nations, and a ball in the centre meant to represent the spirit of the competition.

All of this on a plain white surface makes for a slightly more minimalistic but overall brighter look for the ball.

CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE

The 32 panels of the Tango 12 are fused together via thermal binding, a method that is meant to provide stable and reliable flight – the very aspects that failed with the Jabulani monstrosity.  Together with this is a surface texture that should provide enhanced ball control and supports the contact between the ball and a player’s boot.

Overall the outer construction should help the ball go where it’s supposed to go. And with the help of countless hours of testing, the Tango 12 promises to demonstrate excellent aerodynamic capabilities.  In short, this baby will be fly better.

As for the ball’s resilience in natural conditions, just beneath the ball’s surface are situated a woven carcass plus a new bladder, both meant to aid the ball’s air retention and reduce its water uptake.  Overall this should ensure that the ball will retain its original shape for much longer.

It also comes in a High Energy with Black and Super Cyan colourway, making the ball stick out like a sore thumb against the winter backdrop.

Testing has also subjected it to a number of weather conditions, and adidas ensure that the ball has passed every imaginable lab assessment that could be thrown at it.

OVERALL

No complaints here about the ball’s look.  The general style, along with all the elements that come with it, are enough to make this ball stand out.  As a symbol for the Euro 2012, its look fits the bill in spectacular fashion.

As for performance, the ball comes with enough to make it a fairly reliable piece of equipment, ready to face the most extreme of situations, and players.

As of this writing, the Tango 12 is on sale at Amazon UK, dropping its price from over £80 to £60.  Reasonable enough, we say.

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