**Before going any further I do want to acknowledge that there are many controversies surrounding this Cup. I can't help but be excited around this time every four years, but I think it's also important to respect and be aware of the issues that were created and will be left behind well after the Cup. Did you catch John Oliver's piece about FIFA on Last Week Tonight? Watch it. It is spot on. He does an excellent job of shedding light on FIFA's shadiness fulling admitting his own inexplicable excitement for the games. Don't be THAT guy and take the time to educate yourselve on the not-so-shiny side of this years Cup.**
Ok graceful segue into post content in 3..2..1 FASHION!
32 teams are currently taking center stage and all eyes are watching not only their skills but kits as well, well at least mine are. What are kits? Not a euphemism I can tell you that much. Kit, also referred to as "strip", is the European term for uniform. I like to be accurate thanks. Boots not cleats, pitch not field, football not soccer. Although the team kits have already been leaked there were some surprises regarding who was wearing what. Thank you FIFA for changing Rule 2, Section 35 - sounds like I really know my shizz right? Well this rule change states the following;
"Each team shall inform FIFA of two different and contrasting colors. One predominantly dark and one predominantly light for its official and reserve kit."
This means that teams can no longer mix-and-match their kits, i.e. a light top with dark shorts or vice versa. Now, if you know your football you will definitely notice a wardrobe change out on the pitch... and we are talking ICONIC team kits. England can no longer wear their traditional white top with blue shorts. Instead their official kit is all white. Argentina will also be trading their traditional blue shorts for white ones. Even Germany is saying "auf weidersehen" to their black shorts and "guten tag" to the white shorts. Which kinda sucks because I've always found the black shorts intimidating. That being said, you will still see mixed kits but they won't be contrasting. Brazil, for example, is keeping their traditional official kit of yellow top and green shorts... (but ehm judging by that "penalty" call Brazil can kinda get away with it... I joke, I joke, too soon?). The interpretation was really up to the manufacturers. Since Adidas is an official partner they really followed the rule change closely, hence Argentina and Germany. Why oh why FIFA why? Apparently simpler, more monochromatic kits will help referees make more accurate calls, clarifying tackles etc. Mhm... All this aside though the men of many nations look fierce.
The brand-team break down is kinda even-ish. Nike is dressing 10 teams including host country Brazil, Adidas 9, Puma 8, with 5 individual manufactures rounding it out: Marathon Sports, Uhlsport, Lotto, Joma, Burrda Sport. I'd like to point out that Puma went super tight with the silhouette, significantly more fitted then most of the other kits. Too tight Uruguay? HA! I'm sorry, I was actually rooting for them... Head over here and here for a complete list of all the away and home kits but here are my top 5.
5. CAMEROON
Manufacturer: Puma
FIFA Ranking: 56
Key Features: Puma is known for designing vibrant kits for the African National Teams. This years kits were inspired by cave paintings and each team has elements of that somewhere on the kit. For Cameroon, in addition to the cave painting motif, the words "Lion Indomptables" (The Indomitable Lions, the teams' nickname) is included in the repeated. I love that it is an all-over print. It's bold and festive, and displays a strong sense of pride. I also really like the symmetry of the patches across the chest, especially that the Puma logo is smack dab in the center.
5. CHILE
Manufacturer: Puma
FIFA Ranking: 14
Key Features: I am really digging the retro look, a lot. That fitted silhouette, the johnny collar. The more I look at the kits, the more they make me a little nostalgic. Like an homage to the history of the Cup and what it continues to represent *drops mic*. IN FACT, not only is the national flag printed at the outside center back of the kit but the first line of the Chilean national anthem is printed at the inside neck. It's just a nice clean kit.
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| Official kit on the left, Reserve kit on the right. |
3. ARGENTINA
Manufacturer: Adidas
FIFA Ranking: 5
Key Features: I've always loved the Argentinean jersey. It's iconic. This years jersey got some minor updates but still looks fresh. For the official kit the most obvious update is the Adidas logo stripes running down the shoulders. It adds a nice contrast. The vertical stripes on the front of the jersey fade into a subtle ombre - very trendy. Notice the lines that cut across and swirl around the body creating a nice flow from front to back, this is supposed to symbolize the rippling Argentinean flag. Details people, details. The reserve kit looks pretty sharp too. The different shades of blue are actually the same blues used on previous World Cup reserve kits. Like the official kit, the engineering of the stripes are meant to create the effect of the kit blowing in the wind. [Can't get enough kits blowing in the wind? Head over to soccerbible for their top 5 most epic Argentinean World Cup kits.]
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| Official kit on top, Reserve kit on bottom. |
2. FRANCE
Manufacturer: Nike
FIFA Ranking: 17
Key Features: These... are.... superb!! I know there isn't anything, "special" about them but for some reason I just really enjoy looking at these kits. The chic embroidered cockerel crest at the chest is a nice throw-back to the original kit from 1958. What stood out the most to me were the collars. The official kit has a hidden placket and collar while the reserve kit has a very trendy always-looks-good-on-a-man henley placket. These don't look like kits, goodness I can't handle the chicness. The denim-colored official kit is described to have a kind of textured finish mimicking denim. This is supposed to reference the origins of said fabric; de Nimes, (from Nimes). And the stripe, the stripes, oh the stripes, just yum. The stripes are meant to represent the very traditionally french "mariniere" stripes. Bravo, tres bien, genial. Aller Les Bleus! [ Need more Bleus in your life? Head over to soccerbible for their top 5 most epic French World Cup kits.]
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| Official kit on the left, Reserve kit on the right. |
1. JAPAN
Manufacturer: Adidas
FIFA Ranking: 46
Key Features: I like the Japanese kit the mostest because of its elegance and color. These immediately caught my eye when they were leaked and have managed to keep my attention. Like Puma did with the Cameroon kits, Adidas incorporated elements of culture into the design. The concept for the 2014 kits is ENJIN, "act of going into a huddle", reminding the players a supporters that now is the time to unite as one. The brush stroke across the back shoulders is part of the reason I like the kit so much. It's supposed to create a circle when the team comes together for a huddle. Although a little too subtle, I really like the star burst watermark on the front chest. It spreads out and away from the emblem in 11 separate directions representing the the 11 players breaking ENJIN and assuming their positions on the pitch. Symbolic no? The official kit has pink accents at the sleeve and the cross-back brush stroke to honor the 2012 Women's Olympic soccer team, ( they had pink trim on their kits). The reserve kit is "electricity yellow", (symbolizing youthful and tech-savvy Japan) and it is POW in your face! It's basically neon! The Cup kit colors look like this; white, white, white, green, different shade of green, blue, blue, shades of blue, red, yellow, gold, boring, snooze, snore....NEON.
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| Official kit at left and center, Reserve kit on right. |
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