Bang bang dingdingding

What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!

Never had any real interest in soccer, but that carry case thing tempted me to get that set.

The spring loaded stands are actually kind of funny (they were even kept a few years to use as balista triggers in Castle). The painted footballs are somewhat nice too.

It is funny how that goalee control stick has the same connection point as a standard wheel axle on the front... (I haven't figured out any use of that though)

A bit problematic is that fact, that the carry case's lid has a large hole where the clip is - the clip is meant to shut it close, but the plastic is very plyable, so always be careful there.

Not sure if the standard version was even available in continental Europe. I've only ever seen the Zidane version. Back then leg printing was still rather rare. It's even weirder when you consider Lego's hesitance back then to print over companies' logos on parts (other than Shell).

This looks like a way bigger and more expensive set than the MSRP

My little sister had this set, and when I saw that Zidane minifigure was in it, I got very jealous and took it from her. I was 7, but it's still one of my favourite figures ever since. :)

@Krisz said:
"My little sister had this set, and when I saw that Zidane minifigure was in it, I got very jealous and took it from her. I was 7, but it's still one of my favourite figures ever since. :)"

He's not in this set. This is the cheaper version. We couldn't get him for the movie either, so we had to get Jimmy Carr instead.

@Ridgeheart said:
" @Krisz said:
"My little sister had this set, and when I saw that Zidane minifigure was in it, I got very jealous and took it from her. I was 7, but it's still one of my favourite figures ever since. :)"

He's not in this set. This is the cheaper version. We couldn't get him for the movie either, so we had to get Jimmy Carr instead."

Yes, now I see there are 2 versions. We have the Zidane Edition.

@Kynareth said:
" @TotalMaddness said:
" @Robot99 said:
"The actual set is a tiny cropped image off to the corner... Prime example of early 2000's Lego advertising."

To be fair this isn’t the box art, just the instruction manual cover.

This set is weird for multiple reasons, the first of which being the fact that the “goal” is actually a single piece trans-clear storage container of sorts. All the parts of the set can fit inside it and there’s a green clip-on lid with that can be attached to seal it up. It’s even got a belt loop for taking your tiny kinda crap Lego football set wherever you go :P

The other weird thing is that there was a second version of this set, the “Zidane Edition” (3401-2), where one of the generic players was swapped out for a real-life player with Adidas sponsors. For some reason the instruction manual depicted here is for that version of the set rather than the regular one, you can see the Zidane figure attached to the spring-loaded function piece."

That mechanism looks like Zidane could launch into a headbutt. Coincidence?"

@GSR_MataNui said:

"I always found the box art for this line weird."

QUICK LORE:

Zinedine Zidane, 'Zizou' was born in France to Algerian immigrants, and was raised in working class areas of Paris. He captured soccer glory playing for France and pro clubs in Italy and Spain. He won everything there is to win including the 1988 World Cup and UEFA Champions League.

He had the opportunity to retire as the ultimate champion by winning the 2006 World Cup as the best player in the game. He had already scored. However, near the end of the game, he was taunted by an Italian defender (ironically, the player whom had scored for Italy). Zizou turned abruptly and smashed his forehead into the chest of the Italian. Zizou was sent off, did not participate in the deciding penalty kicks, and he team lost. It was the last thing he ever did as a player.

QUICK LORE.

Oh shoot! I didn't score...

Man, I still remember how I got this set
It's a very stupid and simple set, but it had it's charm to it

Man, even the actual box art for this set does a poor job at showing you just what the set is with yet another small image in the corner: https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/ON/0/3401-1.png

@PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)

There was also a re-release version 3568-1 - Soccer Target Practice in 2006, and Lego way ahead of everyone else a US (or Canada or Mexico or Columbia) women's version 3416-1 with 6 players but still only 2 balls.

@StyleCounselor said:
" @Kynareth said:
" @TotalMaddness said:
" @Robot99 said:
"The actual set is a tiny cropped image off to the corner... Prime example of early 2000's Lego advertising."

To be fair this isn’t the box art, just the instruction manual cover.

This set is weird for multiple reasons, the first of which being the fact that the “goal” is actually a single piece trans-clear storage container of sorts. All the parts of the set can fit inside it and there’s a green clip-on lid with that can be attached to seal it up. It’s even got a belt loop for taking your tiny kinda crap Lego football set wherever you go :P

The other weird thing is that there was a second version of this set, the “Zidane Edition” ( 3401-2 ), where one of the generic players was swapped out for a real-life player with Adidas sponsors. For some reason the instruction manual depicted here is for that version of the set rather than the regular one, you can see the Zidane figure attached to the spring-loaded function piece."

That mechanism looks like Zidane could launch into a headbutt. Coincidence?"

@GSR_MataNui said:

"I always found the box art for this line weird."

QUICK LORE:

Zinedine Zidane, 'Zizou' was born in France to Algerian immigrants, and was raised in working class areas of Paris. He captured soccer glory playing for France and pro clubs in Italy and Spain. He won everything there is to win including the 1988 World Cup and UEFA Champions League.

He had the opportunity to retire as the ultimate champion by winning the 2006 World Cup as the best player in the game. He had already scored. However, near the end of the game, he was taunted by an Italian defender (ironically, the player whom had scored for Italy). Zizou turned abruptly and smashed his forehead into the chest of the Italian. Zizou was sent off, did not participate in the deciding penalty kicks, and he team lost. It was the last thing he ever did as a player.

QUICK LORE."

Since no one asked, I'll finish the story anyway. ;)

Why did Zizou head-butt Materazzi, you ask? Well, it was because Zizou was irked that the Italian defender was grabbing his jersey so much to prevent him from scoring.

So, Zizou quipped at him, "Hey if you want my jersey so badly, ask me for it after the game."

Any good Italian is never at a loss for a speedy rejoinder. Thus, Materazzi replied, "I'd prefer your sister."

When asked later, Zizou maintained that he "would rather die than apologize" to the 2006 World Cup Final double goal-scoring Champion.

As far as a football starter sets goes, this manages to do lot with very little. You have the kicking stand and platform, the one-part carrying case goal, and even some frames to shoot through. And a goalkeeper. Not bad at all if you're into this stuff.

@TotalMaddness said:
"The other weird thing is that there was a second version of this set, the “Zidane Edition” ( 3401-2 ), where one of the generic players was swapped out for a real-life player with Adidas sponsors. For some reason the instruction manual depicted here is for that version of the set rather than the regular one, you can see the Zidane figure attached to the spring-loaded function piece."

Thanks for explaining the Zidane Edition. I was trying to figure out why the set image showed a player in a blue shirt with a red horizontal stripe, while it included a minifig wore a shirt with red, white, and blue vertical stripes.

I was so upset as a kid to get this set and find it was the Zidane edition. I wasn't into football and so had absolutely zero interest in a figure of a real player, but I *did* get the monthly Lego Adventures magazine and liked to get minifigures of the characters who were named in the comics - so I was there just to a) sample the theme out of curiosity and b) get the minifigure who the comic named 'Hotshot Harry'. I didn't realise until after purchase that I had got the version that didn't have him at all, and was definitely disappointed at first.

Of course I got over it in due course, and the set was fun enough if you had a second person to play it with. But as that wasn't often the case for an only-child like me, it never quite ever became a favourite set of mine.

@WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)"

You could stop the game but not the clock, and solve a whole host of problems.

@PurpleDave said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)"

You could stop the game but not the clock, and solve a whole host of problems."

Then why even start the game in the first place?

@WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)"

You could stop the game but not the clock, and solve a whole host of problems."

Then why even start the game in the first place?"

I've been saying this for years. Soccerkickball is entirely pointless. The only solution is not to play the game, and when I take over this ridiculous country, I intend to ban footzenball entirely.

@Ridgeheart said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)"

You could stop the game but not the clock, and solve a whole host of problems."

Then why even start the game in the first place?"

I've been saying this for years. Soccerkickball is entirely pointless. The only solution is not to play the game, and when I take over this ridiculous country, I intend to ban footzenball entirely."

For a moment I was worried you would go for the initial WarGames scenario....would also be an effective solution to get rid of hooligans.

@MCLegoboy said:
"Man, even the actual box art for this set does a poor job at showing you just what the set is with yet another small image in the corner: https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/ON/0/3401-1.png "

As has been noted, this is the instruction cover art, not the box art.

If I remember correctly, this set featured an Adidas-branded foot ball with blue markings — actually I bought it (at the now-defunct Maxi Toys shop in Eupen) because of that piece rather than for Zidane…

@WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)"

You could stop the game but not the clock, and solve a whole host of problems."

Then why even start the game in the first place?"

Exactly. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4738944/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

@PurpleDave said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)"

You could stop the game but not the clock, and solve a whole host of problems."

Then why even start the game in the first place?"

Exactly. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4738944/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1 "

True. But then again, these guys don't get to wear all the protective gear like those wimps playing handegg, and they don't get a 10 minute commercial break after 5 seconds of action either.

Makes you wonder why those sports even exist, and why we're not all watching rugby or Australian football. Sports for real man!
(can we still say things like that?)

@StyleCounselor said:
"

QUICK LORE:

Zinedine Zidane, 'Zizou' was born in France to Algerian immigrants, and was raised in working class areas of Paris. He captured soccer glory playing for France and pro clubs in Italy and Spain. He won everything there is to win including the 1988 World Cup and UEFA Champions League.

He had the opportunity to retire as the ultimate champion by winning the 2006 World Cup as the best player in the game. He had already scored. However, near the end of the game, he was taunted by an Italian defender (ironically, the player whom had scored for Italy). Zizou turned abruptly and smashed his forehead into the chest of the Italian. Zizou was sent off, did not participate in the deciding penalty kicks, and he team lost. It was the last thing he ever did as a player.

QUICK LORE."

Hey now, those are full paragraphs not brief 1-2 sentences! That's full lore, not QUICK LORE!!!

Huh. 3401-2 is currently at the top of the "Site Updates" sidebar on the homepage.

@GSR_MataNui said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"

QUICK LORE:

Zinedine Zidane, 'Zizou' was born in France to Algerian immigrants, and was raised in working class areas of Paris. He captured soccer glory playing for France and pro clubs in Italy and Spain. He won everything there is to win including the 1988 World Cup and UEFA Champions League.

He had the opportunity to retire as the ultimate champion by winning the 2006 World Cup as the best player in the game. He had already scored. However, near the end of the game, he was taunted by an Italian defender (ironically, the player whom had scored for Italy). Zizou turned abruptly and smashed his forehead into the chest of the Italian. Zizou was sent off, did not participate in the deciding penalty kicks, and he team lost. It was the last thing he ever did as a player.

QUICK LORE."

Hey now, those are full paragraphs not brief 1-2 sentences! That's full lore, not QUICK LORE!!!"

Oh, I'm a nut for soccer (amongst many other things). If I did full lore, it would look like your passages, good sir. (doffs cap)

@TheOtherMike said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
"Man, even the actual box art for this set does a poor job at showing you just what the set is with yet another small image in the corner: https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/ON/0/3401-1.png "

As has been noted, this is the instruction cover art, not the box art."

Well there is a reason for the link, maybe you should click it.

My first Soccer set--and honestly, when I got it (shortly after the LEGO Mania Magazine on the same topic) was about the height of my interest in LEGO soccer. By the time I could field a whole squad--let alone two--it had waned considerably.

These two were old enough to get names: George and Ferdinand, because apparently they were 19th century German princes.

@MCLegoboy said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @MCLegoboy said:
"Man, even the actual box art for this set does a poor job at showing you just what the set is with yet another small image in the corner: https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/ON/0/3401-1.png "

As has been noted, this is the instruction cover art, not the box art."

Well there is a reason for the link, maybe you should click it."

Yeah, I wasn't paying much attention to what I was reading, although I don't think it's that bad of an image.

@Ridgeheart said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"What? That man doesnt understand the true purpose of soccer, which is dressing up like a billboard!"

Hey, if you can't stop the game every few seconds for a 10 minute commercial break, you have to think of other ways to give sponsors exposure!
(But there's actually no shirt sponsors for national teams, that's only for club teams)"

You could stop the game but not the clock, and solve a whole host of problems."

Then why even start the game in the first place?"

I've been saying this for years. Soccerkickball is entirely pointless. The only solution is not to play the game, and when I take over this ridiculous country, I intend to ban footzenball entirely."

I know nothing about Dutch elections, but you have my vote! As your first constituent, I ask that you please take it a step further and ban all games referred to as "football" anywhere. After well over 100 years, nobody has figured out how to make any of them interesting yet, and I've given up hope anybody ever will.

The only wrinkle is if your country is like Chicago where I have to be dead before I cast a bogus ballot. We'd have to discuss that first.