Strip Club–World Cup 2014 Kit Preview (Part 2)
In preparation for the 2014 World Cup I have been working on several projects, one of which is reviewing all of the kits from each country for the tournament. For Euro 2012, I did an extensive series of posts, running a virtual kit tournament. Alas time and scope do not allow me to do this sort of thing for the World Cup, so instead I went through all of the shirts and narrowed it down to the my top 20. There are some excellent resources for this:
From there I ranked them and put together a couple of posts. Hope you enjoy and comments are welcome.
#10 Belgium Home
I love the red color of the jersey with the image of the crown from the crest in the torso. I am not familiar with the manufacturer Burrda but the company did well with all three kits. All three use the flag colors in the ring collar and the horizontal accent is muted and adds a nice touch.
#9 Brazil Home
Brazil has such an iconic yet simple jersey and it’s hard to screw up, but Nike and Umbro have both done so in the past. The understated trim on the sleeves (as opposed to the #StoptheSleeve versions of recent years) and the new collar design really put this towards the top.
#8 Iran Away
I didn’t even know that uhlsport still existed but the company created a dynamic jersey for Iran’s appearance at the 2014 World Cup. The sublimated cheetah on the away kit is pretty cool and although this could be seen as a Portugal rip off, I think is distinctive enough to stand on its own. In my research, I came across this on wikipedia:
On 1 February 2014, Iran announced the addition of the endangered Asiatic cheetah on their 2014 FIFA World Cup kits in order to bring attention to its conservation efforts.
#7 Japan Home
Adidas got this spot on for the Blue Samurai. The blue is very rich and is trimmed with a peach color which you don’t see very often. The lines that radiate out from the national badge are not only an appealing accent but, according to Football Fashion, serve a purpose:
According to adidas: . . . the uniform is an expression of the strong determination as the players and the supporters realise that now is the time to unite as one and go into a huddle (“ENJIN”) to get ready for the battle ahead, to go all in for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and capture victory. On the left side of the chest, there are 11 lines spreading out from the emblem, expressing the way those players depart from the “ENJIN” to their respective positions on the pitch for the battle.
#6 Cote d’Ivoire Home
Simply love this jersey. Love the orange, and the shirt has such a great looking crest. The African accents on the shoulders and armpits are unique and dynamic, creating a striking jersey for the team. Here’s hoping that Didier Drogba and company get out of the group stage this time around.
#5 Holland Home
Another orange jersey and another classic. As with Brazil, the Dutch kit is very identifiable and Nike has kept things very simple here. In the end, a slightly redesigned crest really pushes this shirt up the list.
#4 Ghana Home
Love the contrast of the white shirt with the accents on the cuffs and shoulders. Sometimes the simplest shirts are the best.
#3 England Away
Nike got this absolutely right for England. The pinstriped red shirt with a ring collar cleverly hides a St. Cross design, and the crest pops against the red background. Combined with the white shorts and red socks, this is one of best strips at the World Cup.
#2 Croatia Away
I’m a big fan of Croatian kits, and this jersey uses the standard royal blue of their away kit and accents it with the red and white checks across the shoulders. Speaking of the red and white checks, I found an interesting post on Wikipedia about the Croatian Coat of Arms, which gives insight into the colors used in the jersey. It also appears that there is a two tone blue in the Football Federation crest but I haven’t been able to find anything that confirms that.
#1 Portugal Away
Wow. When I first saw this shirt, I was reminded of previous Portuguese away kits. Turns out that the 1998. 2000 and 2002 away kits were white with navy blue trim and accents, although for the life of me I couldn’t remember them ever wearing those at a competitive event. This jersey has so much going for it: a white base with minimal blue trim around the collar and sleeves; a collar that combines modern design with the Nike button phase; and a crest that pops while referencing history (Portuguese Football Federation’s centenary). Combined with the blue shirts and white socks, I hope Portugal wears this every game instead of their historic maroon kit. This has definitely gone on the wish list and hope to pick it up in the coming months.
Soccer Nomad 
Belgium – I like this one quite a bit, especially the IDEA of the crown. That grow just looked too cartoonish for my taste.
Brazil – I’m sure there are differences, but it looks just like all its predecessors.
Iran – the cheetah was nice, but I don’t associate the animal with the nation so it was lost on me.
Japan – Very nice. Classic. Simple. One of the best for me.
Ivory Coast Orange – Love it, but some embossing would have gone a long way.
Holland – simple and classic. Might have liked something more.
Ghana – you are right that the African designs offset the white shirt quite nicely.
England – Fine shirt. Didn’t get me too excited.
Croatia – Not enough checkers!!!
Portugal – I would not have made this #1, but it is a nice shirt. That crest is a beauty.