The kit design also features ‘lion claw tears” on each side along the oblique muscles, alluding to Cameroon’s nickname of the ‘Indomitable Lions.’ The tears are not just for aesthetics – they feature a layer of micromesh that allows air to circulate under the garment for better ventilation. In a unique application, the PUMA jumping cat logos on the front, arms and shorts are made of a faux ‘fur’ treatment, thus continuing the lion theme. In addition to the fabric treatment, a new aggressive font has been created for the player names and numbers.

“The Cameroon team has the perfect physique for this formfitting UniQT,” said Filip Trulsson, International Marketing Manager for PUMA Football. “As a group of players the ‘Indomitable Lions’ have come to symbolize confidence, athleticism and sheer power. This new streamline design moves as one with the players to further enhance their style of play and overall performance. It’s a perfect fit.’’

The revolutionary UniQT will be on display at retail, but will not be available for purchase. A replica shirt of the kit will be available for sale in February 2004 with a limited pre-launch of the authentic kit (top half only) in PUMA Flagship Stores worldwide on January 23rd 2004.

Building on the excitement of the tournament, the campaign predominantly features two diehard Azzurri fans, Marco and Fabio. Titled “Forza Tifosi, Forza Azzurri – Two Sides, One Goal,” both the TV and print ads cleverly portray the passion of football from both the fan and athlete points of view, stressing the apparent interdependency and mutual respect between the two parties. As their everyday lives take similar direction the cues to their different lifestyles are evident.

The commercial opens in the morning where two crazed fans prepare for their long journey by car to the stadium to watch their national team and favorite player, Buffon, take the pitch. Buffon’s day starts similarly, but his superstar status is evident by his luxury hotel room and chauffeured limo. The TV spot conveys how their activities resemble one another as they prepare for the match where their paths eventually cross.

“Football campaigns typically feature aggressive imagery, domination and hero driven messages,” said Filip Trulsson, PUMA International Football Marketing Manager. “In our campaign, Forza Tifosi, we wanted to incorporate the fans and their aspirations for their teams and leave the audience excited about football.”

The broadcast executions will air globally with 60, 45, 30 and 20 second edits. Several 10-second spots focusing the activities and lifestyles of the two Italia fanatics will also complement the longer commercials. These 10-second shorts range from Marco and Fabio singing the national anthem, chanting Buffon’s name to the exuberant emotion of meeting a player.

Five print advertising executions will launch in April. Once again the parallel lives of player and fan are portrayed. The executions feature two separate photos, one of fans and the other of the players. The images link up with similar scenarios and are joined by a football logo with the text reading “Forza Tiffosi, Forza Azzurri.” The tagline of the print ads reads, “PUMA, proud technical sponsor of the Italian National Football Team.”

The Senegal National Team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, will debut its new PUMA Cellerator kit and training line in the upcoming friendly match against fellow PUMA team Cameroon, a.k.a the Indomitable Lions, to be played on neutral ground in France on February 9th.

Cellerator, PUMA’s established statement football playing kit and training line, represents the pinnacle performance solution within the brand’s football apparel product offering. All Cellerator apparel takes advantage of PUMA’s AMT (Advanced Movement Technology). This technology incorporates articulated cut lines to reduce friction, ensuring the player has a complete freedom of movement. In addition, the textile and material selection across the range has been tailored to players’ requirements – be it breathability, ventilation, moisture management and, naturally, comfort.

Senegal played its first international game in 1961 and have since successfully qualified for the African Cup of Nations Finals on nine occasions with their best finish in 2002, placing second. Later that year, the Lions of Teranga became the second African team to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.

The Senegal National Team is currently en route for the 2006 FIFA World Cup facing Togo, Zambia, Congo, Liberia and Mali in Group 1 of the CAF continental qualifications. The teams’ next upcoming World Cup qualifier is a home game against Liberia on March 25th.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has joined Pelé and PUMA Chairman and CEO, Jochen Zeitz, at 14:45 CET for a brief statement and photo opportunity to celebrate the German sportswear brand’s renewed partnership with the famed football legend.

“Love, passion and football are the three words that come to mind when thinking about Pele,” said Jochen Zeitz, PUMA Chairman and CEO. “We are inspired by Pelé’s presence and we are excited to be working with this remarkable football legend once again.”

While the eyes of the world focus on Germany as the host nation of the 2006 football world championships, this partnership is especially poignant for PUMA. This brand initiative will position Pelé as the brand’s football ambassador while PUMA’s active players promote the brand’s technical football range on the pitch.

“I am very pleased to be working with PUMA once again,” said Pelé. “Over the years PUMA has been my brand and it is great to reunite with them so we can create some excitement for the football fans leading into 2006.”

“With the borders of the European Union shifting eastward, Poland’s position as a key market is further underlined,” said Jochen Zeitz, PUMA CEO and Chairman, attending a press conference in Warsaw. Confirming the strategic importance of the continued collaboration he added, “PUMA has successfully established itself in this important market, and in doing so the partnership with the Polish FA has been a major contributor. Both parties have a strong heritage in football, but more importantly they have their eyes set on what promises to be an exciting future.”

Michal Listkiewicz, President of the Polish Football Association: “We are very pleased to have extended the co-operation with a global brand of PUMA’s magnitude. The Polish FA has a proud international record and so does PUMA. As such, it feels very reassuring to work with a partner that shares our ambition concerning the future of Polish football.”

The Polish National Team endorses the PUMA Cellerator line – the brand’s established statement football concept in footwear, apparel and equipment. All Cellerator apparel takes advantage of PUMA’s AMT (Advanced Movement Technology), which incorporates articulated cut lines to reduce friction, ensuring the player has a complete freedom of movement. In addition, the textile and material selection across the range has been tailored to players’ requirements – be it breathability, ventilation, moisture management and, naturally, comfort. The FIFA approved Cellerator ball introduces the revolutionary Dimple II CW System developed and designed to boost speed and distance with controlled trajectory.

Poland, whose honors include an Olympic Games’ title (1972), an Olympic silver medal (1976) and two FIFA World Cup third place finishes (1974 and 1982), is currently in second place of their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, facing Austria, Azerbaijan, England, Wales and Northern Ireland in Group 6.

For his second Italian National Team kit design, Barrett’s signature styling of clean lines, slim tailoring and layered garments come to the forefront. A deep v-neck revealing the new FIGC badge on an azzuri blue underlay creates a statement look for the team. The distinctive styling of the white v-neck creates a sophisticated, yet understated feel. This deep v-neck technique also hints at the team’s new 2006 home kit to be released on March 1st.

“Launched under the tag ‘Italians Look Better,’ the kit embodies the charisma of the team,” said Filip Trulsson, PUMA Teamsport Business Unit Manager. “Italians are known for their inherent style and we think it’s a necessity to maintain this essence of fashion when creating the football kit for the team. Through Barrett’s vision and our internal design talent, we are continually able to deliver a performance kit with unique visual interest and appeal.”

Over the past two years, Neil Barrett has worked closely with PUMA’s design team merging the brand’s technical sport integrity with his fashion sensibility. All of the garments, from the playing kit to the team apparel, utilize proven functional materials and cut lines to provide optimum performance. The shirt introduces a new groundbreaking woven rip-stop fabric, specially developed for PUMA in close co-operation with Toray Textiles and Manchester Metropolitan University.The woven fabric is extremely lightweight, carries outstanding wicking properties and has limited stretch to prevent shirt pulling.

In addition to the playing kit and selected team wear, a new FIFA-approved ball will be launched for the Italian National team – the v1.06. Introducing a new-patented panel concept based on a verified geometrical approach, this construction secures the roundest, most technically advanced ball on the market. Continuing with PUMA’s patented dimple technology, the new v1.06 ball delivers more speed, more distance and improved trajectory.

About Neil Barrett
Of British descent, Neil Barrett’s professional history is thoroughly Italian, including five years as Senior Menswear Designer at Gucci, four years as Design Director of Prada Menswear and launching his own brand name collection in 1999 produced by among others, the Prada Group and Allegri. For further information, please visit www.neilbarrett.com

“The announcement of the long-term strategic partnership with the Italian Football Association underlines PUMA’s reinforced commitment to further strengthen its position as one of the leading football brands,” said Jochen Zeitz, CEO and Chairman of PUMA AG, and continued: “The Italian National Team, more than any other national team property in world football, perfectly embodies PUMA’s unique sportlifestyle positioning and we are delighted about the extension of this already successful collaboration.”

This announcement coincides with the introduction of the new 2006 Italy National Team away kit designed by PUMA in collaboration with Neil Barrett. The away kit will make its debut in a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam on November 12th and will also be worn by Gli Azzurri in a friendly game against fellow PUMA team Ivory Coast on November 16th in Geneva.

Italy, whose honors include three FIFA World Cup titles (1934, 1938 & 1982), a UEFA European Championship title (1968) and one Olympic Gold medal (1936), has qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany securing first place ahead of Group 5 qualification contenders Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Belarus and Moldova.

“The co-operation with the Saudi Arabian Football Association clearly underlines PUMA’s commitment to the middle east region,” said Oliver Wirth, Managing Director of PUMA’s newly founded subsidiary PUMA Middle East, and continued: “Having qualified for the last four football world championships is a record that speaks for itself. Clearly, it is a great statement for PUMA to be associated with the region’s most successful national team.”

Saudi Arabia will be endorsing PUMA’s new v1.06 statement product concept come 2006.

The Saudi Arabian Football Association was founded in 1959 and has been an affiliated AFC and FIFA member since the year it was founded. The Saudi national team is currently ranked 31st in the FIFA World Ranking and its major honors include three AFC Asian Cup titles (1984, 1988 and 1996) and two Gulf Cup winners’ medals (1994 and 2002). Saudi Arabia became the first AFC affiliated national team to win international honors when they won the FIFA U17 World Cup in 1989.

The Saudi Arabia national team has qualified for four successive football world championships. The team coached by former Argentine international Gabriel Calderon secured its ticket for Germany 2006, having won all six games against Stage 2 qualification contenders Turkmenistan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka before getting the upper hand on Stage 3 qualification opposition South Korea, Uzbekistan and Kuwait, maintaining their undefeated record with four wins and two draws.

With the play-offs now completed, the following PUMA contracted National Teams are confirmed for participation in next year’s major sporting event:

• Czech Republic
• Ghana
• Iran
• Italy
• Ivory Coast
• Paraguay
• Poland
• Saudi Arabia
• Switzerland
• Togo
• Tunisia

“This is a tremendous statement for PUMA and once again underlines our commitment to football with the aim of further strengthening PUMA as one of the leading football brands,” said Jochen Zeitz, CEO & Chairman of PUMA, and continued: “We take great pride in being the brand with most national teams at next year’s event and would like to congratulate all eleven Federations for their wonderful achievement as well as those PUMA associated Federations that battled hard throughout the qualification.”

All associated PUMA National Teams will be endorsing the brand’s new v1.06 statement product concept come 2006. The v1.06 statement product concept will be launched at the African Cup of Nations where PUMA again is the dominating brand with six national teams confirmed including: Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo and titleholders Tunisia.

Three of the African teams above, i.e. Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, make their debut at the World Cupä with Tunisia making their fourth appearance. For Saudi Arabia this has been the fourth successive successful qualification campaign with Iran bound to appear for the third time. For Paraguay and Poland, the upcoming finals represent their seventh appearance. Czech Republic and Switzerland will both be making the trip for the eighth time with Italy further enhancing their impressive record of sixteen appearances in total.