Do doubt those regular readers of Pocket-lint will be familiar with the balls of Adidas.

We saw the World Cup ball (the +teamgeist), and the media furore that surrounded it - less seams, more rounded, lighter, friend of the striker, enemy of the keeper, saviour of the universe! - and very much put forward as an exciting element of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Well, perhaps the excitement didn't emerge in the World Cup, or perhaps the ball didn't have that much of an impact on the game as pundits the world over like to think. Adidas has now released their Champions League sphere of joy, which is the same ball with a different paint job.

And yes, if you wish to spunk £75 on a football to thrash round the park with your mates, you can have the offical ball of the Champions League, so you can bend it like ... erm ... Crouch.

>> Adidas - Official website of Adidas