The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Adidas vs Nike
The UEFA Euro 2016 is finally here. All of those long and, very much at times, boring qualifiers have led to this point. Viva La France! And we’re covering all of the juicy goals, epic wins and of course all of the fabulous football boots on display at the 2016 Euros.
So why read our coverage of the Euros? Well apart from the fact that it will guarantee to be hugely different to any other coverage out there (just read if you don’t believe us), we also focus on not the mainstream stuff, but what boots the pros are wearing- obviously!
So, we have come up with a Euro 2016 all-star XI for both Nike and Adidas. We will tally every epic save, every extraordinary shot, unbelievable goal-line clearance, ridiculously tragic mistakes as well as the conventional clean sheet, assist and goals to determine which brand, Nike or Adidas, will have the better Euros.
Our Adidas vs Nike ultimate Euro 2016 lineup
We looked at all the players in the tournament wearing Nike football boots and those wearing Adidas boots to put together our ultimate lineup. Tell us in the comments who you’d put in your lineup!
Goalkeepers: Neuer (Adidas): Hart (Nike)
Left backs: Alba (Adidas): Evra (Nike)
Right backs: Howedes (Adidas): Srna (Nike)
Centre backs: Hummels (Adidas), Vermaelen (Adidas): Koscielny (Nike), Ramos (Nike)
Midfielders: Ozil (Adidas), Pogba (Adidas), Rakotic (Adidas): De Bruyne (Nike), Gotze (Nike), Iniesta (Nike)
Forwards: Alli (Adidas), Bale (Adidas), Muller (Adidas): Ibrahimovic (Nike), Payet (Nike), Ronaldo (Nike)
Overall, Adidas probably just shades it at defence, with Neuer, Alba and Hummels being some of the best in the business. Nike’s defence is a little weaker, but they do have arguably one of the best in the world, Sergio Ramos.
Again, Adidas are probably slightly stronger in the midfield as well. Ozil and Pogba are two top-class players, and both are hugely influential in that midfield for their respective nations. Iniesta is getting a bit old but is still absolute quality, and De Bruyne and Gotze are just (JUST) a step below Pogba and Ozil.
However, Nike have the bigger arsenal up top. Alli is great but inexperienced, and Bale and Muller are obviously well-established strike forces in the game. But Ronaldo and Ibra are two of the best in the world, and backed up by the magician Payet, there’s not many better front threes out there.
The Euro 2016 Boot Battle rules
The ‘battle’ will work on a points-based system, with the following being rewarded or punished:
Euro 2016 plus points
Goal +1
Assist +1
MOTM +1
Good performance +1
Clean sheet +1 (defence)
Extra points can be awarded (e.g. for good pieces of skill, funny celebrations etc.).
Euro 2016 minus points
Own goal -1
Goal conceded -1 (per goal)
Bad performance -1
Red card -1
Extra points can be deducted (e.g. for stupid yellow cards, awful mistakes etc.).
The Euro 2016 Boot Battle: Adidas vs Nike scores
The Euro 2016 Boot Battle: Adidas vs Nike
| Adidas | Nike | |
|---|---|---|
| Romania v France | 1 | 1 |
| Switzerland v Albania | 0 | 0 |
| Wales v Slovakia | 2 | 0 |
| England v Russia | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey v Croatia | 2 | 0 |
| Poland v Northern Ireland | 0 | 0 |
| Germany v Ukraine | 6 | 0 |
| Spain v Czech Republic | 2 | 4 |
| Republic of Ireland v Sweden | 0 | 2 |
| Belgium v Italy | -2 | 0 |
| Austria v Hungary | 0 | 0 |
| Portugal v Iceland | 0 | -1 |
| Russia v Slovakia | 0 | 0 |
| Romania v Switzerland | 0 | 0 |
| France v Albania | 1 | 5 |
| England v Wales | 0 | -1 |
| Ukraine v Northern Ireland | 0 | 0 |
| Germany v Poland | 2 | 0 |
| Italy v Sweden | 0 | -1 |
| Czech Republic v Croatia | 2 | 0 |
| Spain v Turkey | 0 | 1 |
| Belgium v Ireland | 0 | 2 |
| Iceland v Hungary | 0 | 0 |
| Austria v Portugal | 0 | -2 |
| Switzerland v France | 1 | 1 |
| Albania v Romania | 0 | 0 |
| England v Slovakia | 0 | 1 |
| Wales v Russia | 4 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland v Germany | 4 | 0 |
| Ukraine v Poland | 0 | 0 |
| Croatia v Spain | -1 | -4 |
| Czech Republic v Tukey | 0 | 0 |
| Hungary v Portugal | 0 | 6 |
| Iceland v Austria | 0 | 0 |
| Italy v Ireland | 0 | 0 |
| Sweden v Belgium | 1 | 0 |
| Switzerland v Poland | 0 | 0 |
| Wales v Northern Ireland | 2 | 0 |
| Croatia v Portugal | 0 | 2 |
| France v Ireland | -1 | -2 |
| Germany v Slovakia | 0 | 0 |
| Hungary v Belgium | 0 | 1 |
| Italy v Spain | 0 | -2 |
| England v Iceland | -1 | -5 |
| Poland v Portugal | 0 | 2 |
| Wales v Belgium | 1 | 0 |
| Italy v Germany | -3 | 0 |
| France v Iceland | 1 | 0 |
| Wales v Portugal | 0 | 3 |
| France v Germany | -3 | 3 |
| France v Portgual | -2 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 16 |
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