That was one tight World Cup

The just concluded FIFA world Cup has been the tightest in the history of football.

More than the well-toned physiques of the players were on display pointing out to the other competition playing out on the pitch.

Competing for the limelight were the manufacturers of the players’ outfits. Each ensured that they brought out their best technology to give their sponsored team a competitive edge in the hopes that they would be the last standing and showcase this to the millions watching.

The big manufacturers sponsoring the teams were Nike with 10 teams, Adidas with nine while Puma kitted out eight teams. Lotto, Burrda, Uhlsport, Joma and Marathon all had one representative each.

Puma was most vocal in its use of innovative technology in the players’ jerseys that resulted in more than sinewy muscles on display.

Incidentally, the bad boys of football were all kitted out in Puma making their nipples all the more obvious.

HI-TECH JERSEYS

Among the benefits touted in the revolutionary jerseys were the abilities of the jersey to help the players cope with the tropical climate of Brazil.

Puma’s cutting-edge jerseys were made from absorbent fabrics with integrated athletic taping that would allegedly massage the skin and provide faster energy supply to the players’ muscles.

Nike unveiled their Dri-FIT technology that had laser cut air holes that would cool and draw the sweat off the skin.

Adidas on its part did not announce any revolutionary jerseys but kitted their teams with very light fabrics that it claimed were be 40% lighter than any fabric in existence. The polyester material the company called adizero also promised breathable compression that would provide muscle support.

There has been very little research to support the benefits claimed by Puma’s PWR ACTV clothing. However, the integrated athletic taping used in their jerseys is very similar to a form of elastic tape that is used in treating sporting injuries.

Known as kinesio taping, it was first introduced in the 1970s by chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase as a way of supporting injured joints and muscles. It involves placing an elastic cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive to the body in certain areas that's designed to support and improve athletic performance.

According to bleacherreport.com, researchers from the Sports Performance Research Institute at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand echoed acknowledged that kinesio tape had an effect on muscle activity, but said: "It was unclear whether these changes were beneficial or harmful”.

The study concluded that the tape had little effect in the overall performance of the athlete. This is more apparent so as the Puma sponsored teams Uruguay, Cameroon and Italy fell by the way side earlier on in the tournament.

To its credit, Puma delivered the best look of the games in the Kente-trimmed jerseys of the Ghana team. However, at the final whistle, left standing was Adidas- sponsored Argentina and Germany.

While technology holds exponential potential, it would seem that the key ingredient to winning is everything else besides the design of the jersey or the boot.