The campaign, 'Road to Lisbon', has been produced by 180 Amsterdam, as part of a 180/TBWA alliance and includes TV, cinema, print and outdoor and kicks off this week.
The two minute film begins with the footballers on their scooters stopping off for kick-a-rounds in the forests, lay-bys and anything remotely resembling a pitch along the way. They end up taking on an entire Portuguese town before they see Rossio, the main square of Lisbon. The ad is set to Quincy Jones' 'Its Caper Time' from the soundtrack to the 1969 'The Italian Job'.
All the players were outfitted in customised scooters for the commercial, sporting their team colours. For instance, David Beckham's bike is a mod-like number, badged in RAF roundel and St George crosses, with chrome black wheel covers.
Erich Stamminger, member of the executive board of Adidas, said: "Road to Lisbon embodies Adidas' everlasting passion and commitment to football."
The campaign will see 60 second, 30 second and 10 second cut-downs, which will air on terrestrial and satellite stations this week.
The campaign was conceived by 180 creative director and art director Andy Fackrell, 180 art director Stuart Brown developed the print and outdoor campaign consisting of 10 executions, which will be running throughout Europe in sports and lifestyle magazines starting with June issues.
Special executions for huge walls and building wraps were produced for Euro 2004 host-country Portugal. New York based photographer Jake Chessum, shot the print and outdoor campaign.
All media is handled globally by Carat International and PHD in the UK.
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