Showing posts with label Panini World Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Panini World Cup. Show all posts

Friday, June 13, 2014

Japanese WORLD CUP Soccer Cards

When it come to FIFA World Cup cards and collectables, I sometimes am very disappointed in what the USA produces - or in most cases, what it doesn't produce.
 
In a trade that was worth the wait, Ryan over at Japanese baseball cards sent over a reminder what other countries do for soccer's big event:
 
Limited Edition 2002 World Cup Panini boxed set
 
A numbered limited edition boxed set of Panini cards features the Japan National Team. Inside are cards of the players, high lights of the qualification games and special foil cards. 

 
Inside the box in a slotted divider for the cards and a numbered insert post card. Only 20,000 sets were issued. For a national population of 128 million, I'd say its pretty desirable.  

 
Also included were two sets of cards made by Cablee. A smaller pre-World Cup set from 2001 and a larger boxed set from 2002 when they hosted the tournament.  The 2002 issue is Limited Edition for some reason its numbered to 21,664 sets.

 
Few things go together better than beer and soccer. So the Japanese have smartly produced these bottle hangers of Japanese National Team jerseys. I have an example of the 2004 shirt and the 2014 shirt.
 
Japan has a wonderful record of marketing collectibles with drink products. Ryan threw in four bagged PEPSI STAR WARS caps. I need 3 out of the 4 of these for my collection.
 
 
Now its time to watch the World Cup with 3 games on tap today.
 

Monday, June 9, 2014

US SOCCER Fan-Fest Feeds World Cup Fever

The last stop for the US Mens National Team (USMNT) was in Jacksonville, Florida before heading to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Everbank Field has hosted several international matches in the past year and has set attendance records each time.  This occasion was not different as 52,033 packed in to send-off our American boys ad they beat Nigeria who is also head to Brazil.
 
The sign welcoming the Yanks to Jacksonville
 
There was plenty for the fans to do and see among the pre-game tailgating mahem - including a giant fan fest that had loads of free stuff from food to soccer souvenirs.
 

My view from the press box for the contest
 
In addition to the USA's 2:1 victory, fans went home with some great momentos.

I first read about these on Soccer Americana's blog - http://amersoccer.blogspot.com/  where Nabisco, one of the better product supporters of US Soccer, have these hitting the store shelves.

Ritz Crackers box front

Ritz Crackers box back
 
One of the most popular give-aways at the Nabisco tent were these "big head" hand fans. There were 3 different players issued:
 
1. Clint Dempsey
2. Omar Gonzales
3. Alex Morgan

USMNT stars Dempsey and Gonzalez

USWNT starlet Morgan and reverse of fans
 
There were free cookies and crackers as well as sun glasses and wrist bands all depicting US Soccer.
For traditionalist, Allstate Insurance had a winning give-away with their colorful soccer scarf. Made of a light weight silk the two-sided scarf was part of a great chant and exhibition by the American Outlaws supporters group.

scarf front

scarf back

 
Among the other items that proved popular were the estimated thousand PANINI World Cup sticker albums that were given away. The albums includes 10 starter stickers.
 
 
 
All in all a great day !

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

PANINI To Continue World Cup Tradition - Sticker and Cards

Recent press release from Panini America had announced at least 2 upcoming sets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

2014 World Cup Stickers and Albums
The last time Panini sold the stickers and albums, it sold 1.5 billion worldwide with 12 million in North America. These will be available in April.


2014 World Cup Prizm
This will be a worldwide product. Each continent will get its own Prizm-colored borders.
Autographs in this product include Pele, Lionel Messi and David Beckham. It is due out in June.


Panini debuted a World Cup sticker card set in 1970. This past year, a complete set of the 1970 sold for over $4,000 on ebay. Panini supplimented its sticker release with standard trading cards sets beginning with the 1998 World Cup.

1970 Panini World Cup - Pele'
 
1998 debute of Panini World Cup cards
 
1998 Panini World Cup card - Klinsmann
 
I am looking forward to seeing what will be produced by Panini for this tournament. Hopefully, Panini America will put this on the front burner as sticker-mania comes into full swing.
 
As we find out which teams round out the field (after November play-off matches), it will be interesting to see what regional sets will be produced.
 
Stay tuned as I find out, I will present them here. I will also be looking back at some of the more memorable issues of World Cup collectables in the coming months.
 
 

Friday, October 25, 2013

ONLY ONE WILL GO - IBRA or CR7 - 2014 WORLD CUP

The good and the bad of a great party is that some people get to go - others do not.
 
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be a big party. After all, it will be hosted by soccer's party nation - BRAZIL.
 
As World Cup Qualifying comes to a close, the end is marked by the final play-offs that pit the many also-rans.
 
Uruguay, blessed with talented strikers like Liverpool's Luis Suarez and PSG's Edison Cavani, will have to play Middle East upstart, Jordan.
 
While 8 European teams will battle it out for the 4 final places, the draw pitted two of today's fan favorites:
SWEDEN'S IBRAHIMOVIC

PORTUGAL'S RONALDO
 
The home and away series to be played this month was drawn as follows:
 
GREECE v ICELAND
UKRAINE v FRANCE
CROATIA v ROMANIA
SWEDEN v PORTUGAL
 
While it is a possibility that France, the 1998 World Cup Winners, may miss the tournament, it is a fact that either Portugal or Sweden - with their super stars, will sit this one out.
 
Zlatan has 46 international goals (93 caps) for Sweden while Cristiano has 43 goals (107 caps). Ronaldo has appeared in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Ibrahimovic has made it to the 2002 and 2006 tournament finals with Sweden.
 
Cristiano scored both of Real Madrid's goals in its Champions League match this week. Ibrahimovic score 4 of PSG's goals in its 5-1 crushing of Anderlecht.
 
 
Only one will be in Brazil ...
 
 WHO WOULD YOU RATHER SEE AT BRAZIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP ?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Panini World Cup Fever ... Collect'm, Stick'm, Love'm


If you love the game, its part of it as much as the signing, the wave, the hooligans, or the pre-game pub visit. It is PANINI soccer stickers ...

Long before there were pack wars ... grown men would bet on the star power pulled from a ripped packet of Panini stickers.

Then there is the affordable album - packed with info and ready to safely store your player stickers for years to come.

Stay tuned ... CHUCK'S USED CARDS - WORLD CUP CONTEST will be announced before the weekend.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

2010 FIFA World Cup Draw pits club teammates head to head ...

Team mates who play side by side will face off opposite one aqnother when nations clash in the next FIFA World Cup. The earth will stand still in 2010 South Africa - and the recent draw (3 1/2 hours on ESPN) decided the group lots from which countries will compete.

The most notible of course was the former colony - The United States being drawn in Goup C with England. This means the once disagreeable (see The Beckham Experiment) and then befriended Los Angeles club mates - David Beckham and Landon Donovan - runners up in MLS Cup 2009, will be trying to cancel out each other when their countries meet on June 12.

But they are not the only club member who will change allegience during the summer of 2010. Real Madrid's two multi-million dollar signings - Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka' are drawn in Group D with Brazil and Portugal respectively. Not to be dismissed is Ivory Coast - whose duo of Micheal Essien and Didier Drogba will ace both of the above in Group D.



Drogba may arguably be the hottest striker in the English Premier League right now. Previously that title was credited to Ronaldo, who was with Manchester United last season.


This by far, is just the first view of what should be, a powerhouse tournament.