One of the great things about the build up to a World Cup is the release of all the new kits from the countries participating in the tournament.

This year has been no different. So I thought I would take a look at all the kits, pick my top ten and decide on what strip I think is the best.

So we will work down from ten to one.

Here goes…

NUMBER TEN: JAPAN HOME  

I have always liked the Japanese kits. I still have the one from 2002.

They are always plain, got a rich blue and have a touch of Japanese culture in them. Adidas have also given them a nice pinkish red trim.

A nice smart traditional top.

NUMBER NINE: MEXICO HOME

This Mexican top reminds me of a strip you’d get in the late eighties or early nineties with its wacky graphic design. But that makes it unique for this tournament and who has a problem with going retro?

A lot of the green kits this year are very similar and dull but you certainly can’t say that about this effort from Adidas.

Very good to see the badge in the middle of the top too.

NUMBER EIGHT: BELGIUM HOME

A top that isn’t made by Adidas, Nike or Puma? Well this Belgian number from Burrda makes it into my top ten.

I like how the deep red is emphasised more with the crown print graphic. Burrda do well with the collar and sleeves by adding yellow and black thus meaning that the strip is made up of all the Belgian colours.

Another unique strip that will standout from the rest!

NUMBER SEVEN: GERMANY HOME

My brother had the West Germany kit from Italia 90 and I thought that top was sublime. For me this is the closest Adidas have came to beating that one.

I love the two toned red lines that run across the chest.

Adi Dassler, the Adidas founder, was a close friend of former German national coach Helmut Schoen, so Dassler made all the players boots back in the day. Germany and Adidas, its a tradition that shouldn’t be tampered with.

Number Six: Australia Away

I was given the Australian home strip in 2006. It was decent but seemed a bit too much like Brazil for me.

Dare I say it reminds me more of a rugby top.

But this away top looks very stylish. It’s made up of a really, really dark blue and yellow trims. Nike have made sure that even if its a tough World Cup for the Aussies at least they’ll look good.

NUMBER FIVE: BRAZIL HOME

Of course Brazil had to be on this list.

I do love a Brazilian home strip. I have owned three over the years. I may add this one to my collection if I can save up my pennies.

The colours for the kit were actually given to the country by a young nineteen year old who won a competition to design a kit back in the fifties.

This particular one reminds me of the top Socrates wore in the 1986 World Cup.

NUMBER FOUR: ITALY HOME

Puma have finally come to the party with this Italian effort.

Very high end fashion, you could probably get away with wearing this home strip on a catwalk in Milan. The collar comes with a couple of buttons, more for design than practicality purposes.

The Azzurri will be happy with this one, although it does look a bit like a cycling top with its tight fitting.

NUMBER THREE: COLOMBIA

For once the best yellow kit at an international tournament doesn’t belong to Brazil, that honour goes to Colombia.

The Colombian top is mainly yellow with navy blue pin strips going diagonally down. There is a thicker line that crosses underneath the badge. Also comes with a nice v-shaped collar.

Lets hope the Colombian’s can perform will with this strip and finally compete with distinction at a World Cup.

NUMBER TWO: FRANCE AWAY

The French boys love sophisticated fashion.

This design has a stylish collar complete with a few buttons. It reminds me of one of those vest t-shirts that are in vogue these days. The simple white shirt with subtle grey hoops running across it, shows that less does mean more.

I think this Gallic outfit might be the complete opposite of the Brazilian flamboyance that we shall see in South America but their isn’t anything wrong with that.

NUMBER ONE: USA AWAY

Trust the Americans to bring the whole shebang to the grandest stage of them all. Unlike the French they have decided not to tone down or be subtle with their kit. No sir, they have basically went all out with the red, white and blue theme.

It works. Those colours always go well in my book but its nice to have a strip than can involve all three colours in a big way and get it right.

Obviously Nike were not going to get this one wrong, this is their home team after all. It will work well in the Rio sun and hopefully we get to see it in action before the team head back to the States.

So that is my top ten, please feel free to leave your thoughts on the comments below. Especially if you have believe I’ve missed out your favourite. 

Posted on April 30th, 2014 by scott
Filed under: Article, Product Review, World Cup