Eagle-eyed observers of popular culture may have spotted an event taking place in France in recent weeks known as the World Cup. This involves teams of men from different nations trying to propel a round ball through a large rectangle. But when television viewers try to emulate these players, they find they are unable to control a ball in the same fashion.

This is because the World Cup players are using the new, Tricolore, ball while others make the mistake of using an older one. But now you can banish that "I'm-not-as-good-as-Ronaldo" misery with your own Tricolore.

Adidas has re-engineered the traditional ball, coming up with one that is faster and truer in flight. According to the sports manufacturer, it is made up of a tight, regular matrix composed of gas-filled, individually-closed micro-balloons which can return energy in equal measure in all places.

You can buy the real thing, or a cheaper replica that looks like the real thing but has no individually-closed gas-filled micro-balloons. If only someone had told Mick McCarthy in time.

The Adidas Tricolore ball at £54.99, or the replica at £9.99, are available in most sports shops.