Defoe and Robben take on supernatural enemies in global Adidas campaign

by Jennifer Whitehead, Brand Republic 07-Apr-05, 14:00

LONDON - Inspired by a French master and set to one of the 20th century's great composers, Tottenham's Jermain Defoe and Chelsea's Arjen Robben are among the 10 footballers in a Napoleonic battle, set in a gritty urban landscape, in Adidas's latest television ad.

Independent agency 180 Amsterdam has created the campaign, which centres on a 60-second spot "gimme the ball" and promotes Adidas' F50+ football range.

In front of a teenage couple, a drama unfolds as a mass of Adidas footballers try to keep possession of a single football, while real and supernatural adversaries attempt to rob them of the ball.

Defoe is tripped by a tree root and Robben must evade a Cerberus-like two-headed dog. Javier Saviola, the Monaco and Argentine player, is chased by a flock of crazed roosters and then injured Liverpool star Djibril Cisse, who has been out for most of the season with a broken leg, is shown being carried on a stretcher, fighting for the ball alongside Fernando Morientes, David Trezeguet and Alessandro del Piero.

Inspired by one of France's great painters Delacroix and set to the dramatic strains of Aram Khachaturian's 'Sabre Dance', the spot will run on television and at cinemas globally. It will break on April 12.

Andy Fackrell, executive creative director at 180, said: "We wanted something epic and classical looking, yet didn't take itself too seriously. It was always the challenge to get a balance between the two, both in visuals and music."

The spot was written by Fackrell along with Ben Abramowitz, and art directed by Dario Nucci. The television spot was directed by Fredrik Bond, through MJZ London.

It is being backed by a print and outdoor campaign, and three cut-down versions of the ad.

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