Wimbledon may still be three weeks away but "new balls" are already the topic of much conversation out here in Japan.

FIFA have introduced new balls for the 2002 World Cup and the way that they have been flying in from all angles suggests that they could make quite an impact.

The England team have been using them intensively in training and, with his two outstanding performances against Sweden and Japan, David Seaman showed that that work is already beginning to pay off.

The outfield players, including captain David Beckham, seem to be big fans of the way it moves in the air. But what about the man that has to try and stop it?

TheFA.com caught up with the England number one to get his take on the new ball.

"They certainly move around a bit - and quite unpredictably at times," he explained.

"It's a bit different to what I'm used to but then again you get used it - there always seems to be a new ball for the World Cup.

"We've been working with it a lot in training so I feel comfortable with it now. It's a short time to become familiar with a new ball but obviously it's the same for all the 'keepers in the tournament.

"Maybe in the future it would be good for the 'keepers to be able to work with the ball before the tournament begins but for now I'll just be concentrating on keeping this one out!" he concluded. It's comforting to know England's goal is in safe hands.

From Daniel Freedman