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France's players celebrate after winning their 2017 World Cup round of 16 game against Nigeria at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia June 30, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] Fancy footwear in an array of dazzling colours has been the order of the day. What are the most popular choices? And how many players have dared to wear old-fashioned black? It used to be that coloured boots were the sole preserve of one or two flashy, flair players per football team. They were the exceptions to the rule: the cocky prima donnas to their journeymen teammates. Not any more. From Hackney Marshes to the Premier League, everyone now wants to be the star. What's amazing is how quickly we've grown accustomed to flash Harrys. Back in 1970, Hummel caused shockwaves by sending a few star players out in its white footwear; now white is conclusively the new black. I know, because I've spent the past fortnight obsessively staring at footballers' feet and making notes. In this World Cup, it seems, we've finally reached saturation point: coloured boots have now become so devalued that Puma have gone one step further, releasing the evoPOWER Tricks Boot – with one shoe in pink and the other in blue. Even Mario Balotelli thought they were a bit much ("I have to be honest, the first time I saw the Tricks boots, I thought the Puma guy was mad," he admitted). As the World Cup has played out, so the dazzling array of coloured footwear has become ever more bewildering. White has become the predominant colour. But that's just for kick-off. | 
