Everyone is eagerly waiting for World Cup 2006 to begin (3 more days!). In the mean-time here’s a post that will occupy you for a while, and hopefully shorten our waiting-time before WC starts. There are 32 Qualified Balls in this post and were decorated by bora-herke.de. I’m aware this isn’t your classical optical illusion, non the less it’s an assigment for you! Next to each ball, there’s a name of the country this particuallar ball represents. This already made your assignment lot easier! Here’s what I want you to do – post your comment why certain balls are decorated, the way they are. Please comment only one ball at the time (to give other visitors chance to participate). Since I’m from Croatia, I feel it’s my duty is to start with Croatia soccer ball. As you see it’s made from ties, and we all know (or don’t we?) that ties were originally invented and manufactured in Croatia. One solved, 31 to go. Start!
Comments
159 Responses





































(4 votes)

The USA one should be McDonalds cheeseburger wrappers.
It’s nice to see that we Americans aren’t the only ones ignorant about geography, languages and world commerce. Oh, and to the defensive Aussie… would you feel better if your ball were covered with Paul Hogan’s face or Fosters labels or crocodile skin or how about Koala fur?… Just roll with it! Nice balls!
o i get it! there all soccerballs!
mark another 1 down 4 i no everything
( 4 future refrences,im kidding)
The USA one is funny. Do they come in different washes? Anyways, where is Canada?
the netherlands ball should be wrapped around weed leaves :P
is that the steet jeans football?
China’s is wrapped in the flesh of our defeated enemies. aka everyone. including you.
well…im from portugal so i SHOULD know this….im pretty SURE its either sand(HELLO ISLANDS)OR cork(SUPER WINE PRODECERS)i mean, what else closes up wine bottles?
OK AND NO ONE GETS IT. AND THIS HAS SOMETHING TO F DO WITH AN OPTICAL ILLUSION HOW??????
my point made…
agreed with “Californian”… its just one aspect upon many that each country is represented by…
Ćhechien’s reminded me of Wikipedia
U.S.A. is because it invented denim! lol
i don’t really agree with the ukrainian one. Yes, the embroidery is similar, but it’s not very common:( But otherwise – every ball is great!
to 75mph: you have obviously no idea where Tschechien is.. arabic handwriting, dont make me laugh…
England – Tabloid Newspapers
U.S.A – Denim
Paraguay – Lace
Poland – Sheet Music
Angola – Leopard skin
Portugal – Cork
Costa Rica – Coffee Bags
Japan – Manga Anime
Iran – Persian Carpets
Saudi Arabia – Gold
Australia – Aboriginal Art
Sweden – Ikea Catalogue
Serbia & Montenegro – White Angel
Trinidad & Tobago – palm leaves
Paraguay – canvas and lace?
Spain – flowers
Netherlands –
Togo – African tribe patchwork quilt
Ukraine – Flowers and Lace
Croatia – Ties
Ecuador – Blanket
Italy – Studded Leather
Ghana – Coffee
Switzerland – Alps
Mexico – Wildflowers
Argentina – Coal
Brazil – Carnival Costumes
France – Fashion
Germany – Wood
Tunisia – African Art
South Korea – Electronics
i like the usa one because i can get in there pants
For Portugal, without a doubt, it’s cork. Hello, CLAY?? SAND? Who thought of the caca?
the portuguese ball is made of cork.
Portugal is a small country, but it has the highest cork production in the whole world.
By the way, do you know port wine? it is originally made in Porto, in Portugal (not in australia or somewhere else in the world…). Port is served as a starter or at the end of the meal, not as a table wine.
about the pictures they’re good.
By the way we were in 4th place in Germany’s World Cup 2006!
ok here r my guesse!
England – Tabloid Newspapers
U.S.A – Denim
Paraguay – Lace
Poland – Sheet Music
Angola – Leopard skin
Portugal – Cork
Costa Rica – Coffee Bags
Japan – Manga Anime
Iran – Persian Carpets
Saudi Arabia – Gold
Australia – Aboriginal Art
Sweden – Ikea Catalogue
Serbia & Montenegro – White Angel
Trinidad & Tobago – palm leaves
Paraguay – canvas and lace?
Spain – flowers
Netherlands -
Togo – African tribe patchwork quilt
Ukraine – Flowers and Lace
Croatia – Ties
Ecuador – Blanket
Italy – Studded Leather
Ghana – Coffee
Switzerland – Alps
Mexico – Wildflowers
Argentina – Coal
Brazil – Carnival Costumes
France – Fashion
Germany – Wood
Tunisia – African Art
South Korea – Electronics
ok thats all i have not good enough? too bad!!!!
i like how the japan one had comics…ANIME RULES!!!!!!!!!!!
=^.^=
“Tori
on 10:37 AM
I love jeans, but is that really what out country is known for? It would have been better to put the flag or statue of liberty because I think we are more known for freedom and liberty. All well, other countries don’t seem to be represented too well either, as ausie, Sasha, Keeks, emily, and many others stated. And ding chow, Ewww! BTW Aussie, if only 2% of the population is represented, then it isn’t a very good job, now is it? Nothing aganist Aborigionals, I just think the ball should represent the majority. Not that I kow what it is, as I’m not a aussie. AND Californian, I know geography and world commerce! AND I’M ONLY 13! Doesn’t everyone? Its not that hard to know where countries are! Being American doesn’t equal ignorance as most people think, thats just the other political party (Which shall remaine nameless for now for I don’t which to start an argument just because I’m hot-headed). Sorry if I have insultated anyone, and bye!
“
If you think America should be known for its freedom and liberty then look at its human rights record!!!!
I know the Japan one!!!
It’s kinda too easy, but I know it!
It’s anime on the soccer ball, and Anime is Japanese (duh!) I know, that’s really easy..but I love anime, so I was like, OMG!
some of the name i got and some i could get decifer..
i believe the polen one is made of written music
cool
Yep, Poland is music…probably becuase there are a number of composers/musicians from there.
(the first one who comes to my mind is one of my absolute favourites: Chopin.)
The soccer ball for Italy is made from tires,since they have Ferrari, etc. and they love racing cars.
Japanese manga ^_^
portugal is CORK the main supplier of aforementioned substance…
Netherlands: “Het Melkmeisje” (“The Milkmaid”) from Johannes Vermeer
and other Dutch well-known paintings (in holland)
the countries are written in german, so australia is written australien. :P
source: mein deutsch klasse
You know, I think mr one-S ‘Ausie’ has a point… kind of.
Why does EVERYTHING that is meant to represent Australia have Aboriginal art all over it?
We “Aussies” have treated the Aborigines terribly for hundreds of years. Many of them still live in poverty.
The art on the ball was STOLEN. It does not represent Australian culture- not anymore
ozzy wat do you want on you’r ball then.
kazoos?
roos?
dijaridoos?
bbqs?
Darlin’ Karen, the whole thing is written in German. So, no, in English it’s not australien.
Love our English one! Chippy all the way! What if they did some of the city teams like this? I know what Sheffield would be (my hometown)! STEEL! Yahooza, imagane bootin that!
where’s Canada?
The Netherland one is a painting that represented the humble and boring life of the Protestants before they traveled to the Americas.
Im australian and i dun have a problem with having aboriginal art representing us, they are the true custodans of this land and also we were the ones that invaded thier space so i think you should treat them with the respect they deserve. Australia is a multicultural country so its hard to find ONE thing that represents us so why not be the native people that do?
LoL The Italian one looks like the most dangerous! xD (I’m Italian)
But wtf, I want the Japanese oneeee!! ç___________ç
well i pretty much got most of them… they werent tht hard. but why are most places spelt wrong?
hey im croatian too
haha Sweden….Ikea!
i myself am german. all people here said for the german ball tha it’s standing for wood or sth. like that, but i think it’s standing fot the german oak tree that is on our coins, too.
i’m wondering if germany really is known for wooden toys… i don’t think so.
Apparently a lot of you know nothing of brazil ¬¬’.
Well, these are the brazilian colors (blue, yellow and green), and also the colors of the brazilian macaw, which explains the feathers. Samba dancers dance in usual street clothes, except in carnival, where they dress the costumes, which not always involves feathers. Someone said it could represent the Kayapo tribe, and it’s possible, but it’s a small tribe, and I’m not even sure if they have feathers in their usual garment.
the bloody australian one’s indigenous art! that’s exploitation, plus, it doesn’t show our underlying racist values (cronulla, anyone?)
The Swedish one is from the Ikea catalog
It’s that easy, each ball represents the country. Whatever the country is famous for,they designed their ball that way
where is NORWAY?
Well I’m German and I just don’t understand why our ball looks as wood… Is Germany famous for wood??? That’s strange…
I don’t think that’s because of clogs because we usually wear other shoes…
i’m italian and i belive that our ball it’s cover whit beedes, you know because we are famouse about fashion and sparkeling thig!
yeah I LURVE ABSOULTELY LURVE FOOTBALL BUT THIS ONE WAS CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP AND CRAP LUV YA
YOU’VE BEEN SKYEZED HA HA SUCKERS
UR CRAP
the japanese one is manga!!!
I <3 MANGA!!!
The england one is newspapers because the printing press was invented in england