EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 136
cards: 466 (basic set 1-466)
starter pack: € 8.00 binder + 4 packets + 2 limited edition cards
packets: € 1.00 (6 cards)
for the other planned release see below
“Let’s start well!”, opened the first packet of the starter pack and found the Tempesta Azzurra card, one of the rarest, so writes Panini. The detail is important, it means that Panini did not want to leave any detail behind, finally in the starter pack there are no more free version packets (with the usual cards repeated in infinity) but sales version packets and therefore with many more chances to find important cards, as happened to us. Now that “only € 8.00” makes sense.
In the most absurd year since the world war, at least one certainty is left to us, despite everything the sticker and card albums come out and will continue to do so. We like to think that this anomalous situation has pushed Panini to work at full capacity to improve the collection, after years, let’s say, rather repetitive.
The news are so many. An absolute novelty, the teams are not in alphabetical order, but based on the rankings of the last championship, so we find Juventus first, followed by Inter and on to Spezia, third promoted by Serie B.
Nice idea, but as lovers of tradition, we hope it will not be repeated on the Calciatori stickers, in the year of the 60th it would be really a shock. The checklist does not contain the names of the players, a necessary choice given the chaos in which the transfer market still pours. On this point Panini builds a perfect album for the situation, no more classic packets and with the new year the plus players.
The packets from today on newsstands are called “PRIMO TEMPO” and contain the first 233 stickers, at the beginning of October the “SECONDO TEMPO” will come out with another 233 stickers. Attention, it does not mean that now you will find the cards from 1 to 233, they are scattered and those present clearly will not be in the second release, where instead we will find the plus and the trainers cards. At the end of October third and last release with the “TEMPI SUPPLEMENTARI” packets, finally containing only the Plus and Trainers cards and not coming from the 466 already released.
Several new features also among the types of cards such as Bomber, Insuperable Defenders, Assist Man, Specialists, Super Combo (very useful for those who play as well as collect). Very beautiful are the new Diamonds with the tricolor flag in the background, dedicated to the Under21 Azzurri champions.
In general, the graphics have improved, but Panini could be even more daring in the years to come, we are still far from quality of Euro 2020 cards. The game is more and more exciting with many new features, children will surely appreciate.
As always, the search for all the cards provided is not immediate, here is the list / summary:
Basic set: 1-466 (available in the “Primo Tempo” and “Secondo Tempo” packs); in the basic set among the rarest we have 5 Top Player, 1 Tempesta Azzurra, 1 Invincible Card, all of which can be ordered later directly from Panini, so it makes no sense to faint when buying them from private sellers
Set Plus + Trainers: from the end of October in the “TEMPI SUPPLEMENTARI” packets
Limited Edition: 45 cards (2 in the starter pack, 3 in the Tin Box, 25 in the Premium Tin Box, 7 in the Premium packets, 3 in the Premium Gold packets, 5 in the Bomber magazine from September to November)
Absolute new the INSTANT CARDS!
The Instant Cards are made to celebrate the top moments of the season, Panini does not announce how many will be made or the cost, we just know that you will have to be constantly connected to the web world to know when they come out.
They are cards on demand, so only those ordered will be printed and the time to do so will be at a minimum. Here really, if you don’t want to leave your salary, it’s better to be careful and buy them gradually. They will not be ordered later and will certainly be very coveted pieces among collectors, especially among the most careless ones.
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going”, Panini still knows how to have his say, if he wanted to prove that he believed in his products he hit the mark.
In the meantime, we hope, after certainly the great effort in making this album, you will finally remember to finally print those still missing stickers of the Championship Film to complete the Calciatori 2020. The longest collection in history!
(EN)