Issue 2 | The World Cup Issue

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WORLD CUP ISSUE

Editor's Letter

There’s something magical about a Brazilian World Cup. From Sócrates to Romário, Pelé to Ronaldo, Brazil’s rich football history makes it the ideal place to celebrate the game the English created, but the Brazilians made their own.

Throw in the Brazilian people’s vibrancy and joie de vivre and you have the perfect tournament.

In 2014, Brazil faces a tough challenge to win football’s elite prize on their own turf. The tournament’s poster boy, Neymar, is expected to guide the Seleção to the final, but there are a few nations looking to spoil the party.

Among them is Spain. Reigning champions of the world and of Europe but, somewhat surprisingly, unfancied by many who believe La Furia Roja do not have what it takes to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain their world crown.

Write off Spain at your peril. In 2010, they recovered from a shock opening game loss to Switzerland to go on to win their first World Cup. David Silva was one of the casualties of that defeat, losing his starting place in South Africa and going on to play only four minutes more in the entire tournament.

Four years on, the Manchester City playmaker has forced his way back into the forefront of Vincent del Bosque’s thoughts and, in a rare interview with Rabona, reveals his determination to keep his place in a Spain squad dripping with talent. It’s also been an emotional year for Spanish football, given the passing of Luis Aragonés, the man who coached Spain to their watershed moment in 2008, and someone who Silva says he’ll “always be indebted to”.

I hope you enjoy this second offering of Rabona, which also features exclusive interviews with another Spain star, Juan Mata, Ivory Coast’s Salomon Kalou and England’s rare talent Ross Barkley. There is also the usual offering of great photography and insightful journalism to get you further in the mood for the greatest football show on earth.

Michael Da Silva, Editor of Rabona

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Chapter 1

Equipment 10—12 Every World Cup ball since 1978 14—20 Our favourite 2014 World Cup shirts

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When Adidas introduced the Telstar at the 1970 World Cup, its unique black and white design became an instant classic. The German sports giant has made every World Cup ball since, and they kindly allowed us to photograph the only complete collection of official World Cup balls in the United Kingdom since 1978...

Photography by Tom Cockram

World Cup Balls

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1982 TANGO After the Telstar came the Tango — an instant classic. Its 20 panels with “triads” gave the impression of 12 identical circles, with the ball making it’s debut in Argentina. This was the first of five World Cups where the official ball was based on this design.

1982 TANGO ESPAÑA

1986 AZTECA

1990 ETRUSCO UNICO

1994 QUESTRA

The Tango was so popular that Adidas kept the iconic design four years later with this Spain issue of the same ball. This time, they introduced revolutionary waterproof sealed seams to reduce the ball’s absorption, keeping it light in wet conditions.

Diego Maradona did wonderous (and mischievous) things with the Azteca in 1986. The first synthetic and handsewed World Cup match ball, it marked a revolution in football technology. Its design was inspired

by Mexico’s history, architecture and murals.

Italia ’90 is remembered for Roger Milla’s dance and Paul Gascoigne’s tears but the Etrusco Unico was another milestone for Adidas.

It was the first World Cup ball to contain an internal layer of black polyurethane foam, making it fully water resistant.

Adidas used NASA space technology to develop a ball that represented America’s “quest for the stars” — fully befitting a World Cup in the USA. The Questra’s high energy return layer of white polyethylene foam ensured it was soft to touch, but flew of the boot.

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1998 TRICOLORE As the name suggests, the Tricolore was the first multicoloured World Cup ball. Its red, white and blue markings featured the French flag and cockerel, but it was the last ball to feature the distinctive Tango triad concept.

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