With the release of the latest kits on September 17th, we look back on all of Nike’s designs and evolution over the past 15 years. This feature has been where I’ve put together a series of mock-up kits for FC Dallas over the past eight years. In the summer of 1995, Chelsea signing Ruud Gullit posed in his new club’s home jersey worn over a long-sleeve office shirt, perhaps in an attempt to convince people that “doing a Gullit” (wearing football shirts over work attire) was the new “doing a Cantona” (turning up your collar). Inside the collar is printed the globe from the national flag. This Old Glory design is printed on an adult mesh jersey, featuring an all over soccer ball graphic that includes the Brazilian flag. With red checkered elements of the flag running horizontally across the kit, the coat of arms placed over the heart, and player’s numbers squared in the chest, it was truly unique and remarkable. Juan Cuadrado gave Colombia the lead just before halftime, Neymar levelled in the second half but was left red-faced after sending his penalty kick flying several metres over the crossbar in the 80th minute with a complete mis-kick.
Italy in their unbranded jersey took home the title over adidas West Germany. A throwback foldover collar can be seen on the jersey for Inter Miami, Yokohama F. Marinos, and Universidad de Chile. On top of an all blue shirt, the Gallic rooster and collar receive the most emphasis and pop with their contrasting white colors. Nike is a close second and where close to having the most teams in Russia only for 3 of their top teams, the USA, Netherlands, and Chile, all to fail to qualify. South Africa may have been a return to the top for adidas but it was the end of an era for Umbro. If Brazil finishes second in Group E, Brazil will play the team that finishes first in Group F (either Germany, Mexico, South Korea or Sweden). 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the first to be hosted on the African continent, after running a distant 3rd 4-years earlier. The Socceroos and Westfield Matildas’ wore the same kits for their FIFA World Cup campaigns. The Westfield Matildas adopted a tri-coloured design for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. As the Westfield Matildas developed into a powerhouse outfit, the designs of their kit became bolder.
Adopting the iconic kit which Socceroos fans remember for their penalty shoot-out win against Uruguay in 2005. The jersey was memorable for the Westfield Matildas as well, with the shirt worn throughout their first ever Asian Cup campaign on home soil. In the last eight the Three Lions met Argentina, and specifically Diego Maradona, who scored twice in a 2-1 win. It will be the 15th time England have gone to the World Cup, as they look to win it for just the second time ever. After topping their group and edging out Ecuador in the last 16, England came up against Portugal in the quarter-finals. The Three Lions were actually very competitive in all three games but came away with just a goalless draw with Costa Rica and last place in their group. We decided on red socks for ours since FCD has alternated between red and blue of late, with a blue sock used last season. For example, FC Dallas was supposed to wear blue socks in 2020 before a late switch to red. The blue away jersey features a star graphic on the front panel.
Not only did the jersey incorporate dri-fit technology that kept players cool, it also retained the iconic Brazil yellow with subtle stitches of green on the shoulders. The jersey pays respect to the tradition but it is all modern when it comes to the technology. It’s no surprise that the World Cup winner also has a stellar jersey. Ronaldo’s 1994 World Cup jersey read “Ronaldinho” to distinguish him from an older teammate with the same name; by the 2002 World Cup he had become the undisputed Ronaldo and was joined by a younger teammate who was called, in turn, Ronaldinho… Which, come to think of it, neymar brazil jersey is the one saving grace of this jersey. If they conceded two goals in quick succession in a knockout game would memories of the meltdown from 2014 come flooding back again? If they were to come up against Germany in a semi-final would they be able to deal with the occasion? The deal with the United Arab Emirates Romai was ‘disastrous’ according to those close to the federation. The blogosphere loved talking about Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup kits made by Nike. There was a time when Nike thought it would be a good idea to have GOAT candidate Lionel Messi suit up in what could be the anti-GOAT of kits.