The chief executive of German sporting goods company Adidas has said that the company is hoping to capitalize on the enthusiasm for the Germany 2006 soccer World Cup by selling 10 million official balls.

CEO Herbert Hainer said: "We sold almost six million of the 2002 World Cup ball, more than six million of the 2004 European Championships ball and we aim to sell 10 million of the Germany (2006) ball."

The ball is due to be presented in Leipzig on Friday 9 December 2006. Until then, Hainer is giving little away about the design of the ball but he said it would be better suited for South American soccer players as well as fly "more accurately than other balls."

"The ball is softer and it allows better control than ever. That's what most players want, particularly the South Americans," he said, adding that the weight and aerodynamics of the ball would remain constant throughout a game.

"It's totally inured against external influences," he said. Although FIFA has ruled out using "smartball" technology at the World Cup, Hainer said a ball partly designed by Adidas containing a tiny microchip would eventually be adopted.

Hainer said it was possible Adidas could share the technology for the ball with other firms in future. He also repeated that the company planned to chalk up more than one billion euros worth of soccer product sales next year.