Euro fever is here and one thing that will be under the microscope at this summer's tournament is the new adidas Tango 12 football! Inspired by adidas' back catalogue of some of the games great balls, the new adidas Tango 12 arrives over three decades after one of the brands most famous designs - the Tango Durlast. We've put the two together in a meeting that shows just how far ball design has come.
The re-engineered adidas Tango 12 will have a point to prove after the infamous adidas Jabulani that was brought into question throughout the South Africa World Cup. Now with a new design and technologies, the official ball of the 2012 European Championships will be expecting to make a better splash in Poland and Ukraine this summer.
Soccer ball design has experienced a revolution since the release of the adidas Tango Durlast in 1978. The ball that was used during the 1978 World Cup in Argentina introduced a new design which would be used for the next two decades: twenty panels with 'triads' that created the impression of 12 circles. For the following five World Cup tournaments, each match ball would be based on this iconic design.
The adidas Tango Durlast was the most expensive football in history at the time of its release, priced at $300. Made from leather, it featured improved weather resistance qualities with waterproofing Durlast coating and took inspiration from the passion that surrounded Argentinian football.
Fast forward to the adidas Tango 12 and a lot has changed in ball design. The adidas Tango 12 is the fourth incarnation of the Tango ball and is adidas' eleventh official Euro ball. Based on the classic Tango design, the adidas Tango 12 is a modern interpretation of the footballs used in the World Cup and Euro competitions of the early 80s.
The adidas Tango 12 features a series of triangular panels that are thermally bonded together to ensure a true, stable flight path. Covering each panel of the ball is a grip texture which supports boot to ball contact and enhances ball control. Beneath the outer surface of the ball lies a woven carcass and a new bladder for increased air retention and reduced water uptake.
The official match ball of the Euro 2012 tournament is the latest design in adidas' rich history of football development which started in 1963. During that time, three Tango inspired designs have been produced for the Euro tournaments - the 1980 Tango River Plate, the 1984 Tango Mundial and the 1988 Tango Europa.
The adidas Tango 12 football is available to order now. What have been some of your most memorable adidas footballs? Share your thoughts and join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.