WAYNE'S BOOTS

From The Guardian:

‘Last Tuesday at Old Trafford Wayne Rooney unveiled a new boot, the Nike Air Zoom Total 90 Supremacy. He tried it out in training at the end of last week and felt no adverse effects. But four days after it was first shown to the world, and the very first time it was worn in a competitive fixture, Nike's new boot was involved in injuries to two England players.

In the first half at Stamford Bridge on Saturday Rooney accidentally raked his studs against John Terry's leg, causing a cut that required 10 stitches. And in the second half Rooney broke his fourth metatarsal after a seemingly innocuous challenge involving Paulo Ferreira. Both Terry and Rooney left Stamford Bridge on crutches, though the damage sustained by the Chelsea captain was superficial.

Rooney has, in the words of Nike, "played an extensive role" in the development of his new footwear.

Modern lightweight boots have been blamed by some experts for the spate of metatarsal injuries, which used to be relatively rare. "They are not offering the protection they once did," said Exeter University's Sharon Dixon, an expert on the biomechanical aspects of sports injuries. Adidas tweaked the design of its Predator boot in 2004 to provide better cushioning at the front of the foot and give the metatarsals more protection.

Several internationals have signed up to wear the new Nike design at the World Cup. Most worryingly for England, Rio Ferdinand is one of them. Others include Roberto Carlos, Claude Makelele, Alberto Gilardino and José Antonio Reyes.'