Kit Evaluation

At times Americans are known for being superficial. In sports this translates into loving teams based on their style. As a kid I know this was a big deal for me as I picked up loving the Cincinatti Bengals because of their tiger-striped jerseys.I know many-a-ladies who like to cheer for a team because of their team colors, or sometimes against a team because the tops and bottoms of a jersey clash.

So, I will take it upon myself today to critique each team's jersey and grade them on a letter grade scale. Home Kits on the left. Away kits on the right unless it is the only one released.


Algeria

Most of the African teams appear to have this same style kit from Puma with the right shoulder highlighted and I am a fan. I love the green away kits and I hope to see those at least one time on the pitch. The star (no doubt from the country flag and a sign of Islam, the country's official religion) is small and minimalistic yet makes the jersey unmistakable Algerian.

Grade: B+

Argentina

Is there a better kit than than the Argentine home light blue and white? It is hard to argue against it. This is the jersey that made my brother a fan at a young age and has always held a place in my heart as a symbol of international football. It has to be the second most memorable kit in all of intentional play (behind the red and white checkers of Croatia).  I just hope that we don't have to see them resort to their away kits.

Grade: A

 Australia

Aussie yellow with a touch of green. Exactly what you would expect from a color and style perspective. I do wish they had a little highlight on the sleeves. It is very plain but really represents Australia well. This is another team where I hope to see the alternate at some time. That blue seems out of place but looking back at the flag is totally understandable.

Grade: B-

Brasil

I must say that I would be concerned if Brasil and Australia were to meet on the pitch, one team would have to bust out their alternate jersey. But let's be honest, that is not going to happen, it would have to be in the final or 3rd place match and Australia wont be making it there.I like the away kit as well with all the little dots. It is unique.

Grade: B+


Cameroon

Once again the Puma shoulder thing that I am fond of. Especially on the away jersey, the red stripes would be boring were it not for the asymmetrical design. As if one animal wasn't enough on the kit, they decided to add a second, and that baboon does not look happy (scratch that, it is not a baboon, but a lion). Cameroon's home kit is a good tribute to their bold tri color look.

Grade: A-

Chile

Chile is the only team going with a Brooks kit and although it is unique, it is not going to be a memorable kit to observers. The orange/red color of the jersey is not beautiful and for me makes me think of the Netherlands, not Chile.

Grade: F

Côte d’Ivoire

I Cannot get enough of this new Puma design. The Ivory Coast kits are just awesome. If they have an opening round like they did last world cup I might just have to go out and buy one of these kits. Either one really. I love the orange color of the home kits as well as the green and stripes of the away kits. Puma, you have outdone yourselves with this design... will you please design me a wardrobe.

Grade: A

Denmark

Adidas is loosing place in the market when it comes to international kits and this home jersey might be a reason why. I am not a fan of the warping striped lines and I don't think the appearance of movement will actually make the players move any faster. The away kit is a nice throwback kit and I actually have an old jersey from my college (from the 70s or so) that looks very similar. I like it and think Denmark needs to throw out it's home jerseys and go entirely with the away kits.

Grade: D-

England

England has always had that snobby, we're better than you attitude and this comes off with their jerseys. I am a fan of white jerseys, as a matter of fact, I love them, but this looks like they are just wearing a white polo and are going to go out and play tennis or something at Wimbledon. Their Umbro kits are nice, but nothing worthy of a second look.

Grade: C

France

Another Adidas kit that misses the mark on the home front, but has a nice complimentary away option. At least the home kit looks reminiscent of their past kits and is not completely off the mark. I will not be buying one of these anytime soon though, and not just because I don't want people to think I am French.

Grade: C-

Germany

Germany is keeping it plain and I think it pays off. Unlike the snobby white polo of the English they have a sporty white jersey with a very stylish vertical graphic down the front and under their logo. The away jersey is simple and black with a red collar, not much more to say about it.

Grade: C+

Ghana

These are my favorite kits of the whole bunch. The home jersey is a nice plain white with some black trim. The asymmetrical design has the star on the shoulder and looks awesome. The away jersey is bright and very sharp with the stripes. I would absolutely love both of these jerseys in my closet. Any volunteers to purchase them for me?

Grade: A+

Greece

I have been giving Adidas a hard time but they got these right. the nice blue and white color scheme and the simple design on the shirt are not ugly decoration, but are enhancement to the style of the shirt. I also like that both the home and away jerseys are the same design but negatives of each other.

Grade: B

Honduras

This is the only team with Joma kits and I can't help but wonder why. These are sharp kits I think that many of the North and South American teams would look good in this style. As a matter of fact it is a style that reminds me of Central American club soccer and as such is very suited to Honduras. The blue and white colors look nice and I am always a fan of the vertical stripes. Even the H looks good on this jersey. I hope Joma makes it bigger in the international market. Not only are their Jerseys nice but I am convinced that their cleats are the best available.

Grade: A

Italy

Italy always seems to be the best dressed nation. Whether it is their national team or their club teams, they just have sharp uniforms. Unfortunately this year they are not on my best dressed list, though they are not far from it. I love the collar style with the little indentations (or perhaps they are speed vents). I don't necessarily like the faint design on the body part of the jersey, but I doubt it will be that noticeable. 

Grade: A

Japan

This is a different Adidas design and is probably one of their better non-nostalgic outfits. I do wonder at the choice for the Japanese to wear blue, wouldn't red be more patriotic? Also the red spot under the collar makes me think of a bird. Do you think it would be offensive to call them the rednecks?

Grade: C

Korea Republic

 South Korea has only released it's away kit to the right. Their probable home kit is at the right and is a leaked image of what Nike has submitted as a patent office. Overall it is very simple and I like the colors and don't even mind all that is going on in the background. I do like the addition of the bold stripes on the sleeves.

Grade: C+

Korea DPR

North Korea is the only squad that has yet to reveal it's 2010 kits. Normally they wear the red and last year they went with the Hummel design shown to the left. Since they havn't yet released this year's version I cannot justify giving them a grade.

Grade: Incomplete

Mexico

We will get to the home jersey in a minute, but hot dog that away jersey is amazing. I am not usually a fan of the black jersey but with the red and green highlights that might be the most impressive jersey of the entire field. Hopefully we will get the opportunity to see it on the pitch at some point. Oh yeah, the home jersey, it's a nice contemporized version of the traditional Mexican wear, CAN WE PLEASE SEE THE AWAY KIT IN A GAME!!

Grade: A

Netherlands

The Holland home kit, much like the Korean kit is yet to be confirmed, but the leaked image to the left looks to be much like the South Korean one. Their away kit is interesting in that it has no orange on it at all. Maybe someone actually took a look at their flag when they were designing it.

Grade: B

New Zealand

The home shirt will probably be the leaked image on the left and the already released away jersey of the "All Whites" is, ironically, all black.This is one of the most plain jerseys of the field and although that is not a bad thing, I don't think it will be memorable. Once again I like the plain Nike design with the bold stripe on the sleeve.

Grade: C+

Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the two African teams not to go with the new Puma design and I definitely think they are missing out. If they are going to stay with Adidas at least go back to the green and white vertical stripes. I couldn't find the away kit but i assume it will be the negative of this. Some sites have reported that this will not be their jersey but for now this is all I have to go on.

Grade: C

Paraguay

There might be one thing that Adidas can do right, and that is the stripes. I like this jersey and not only because it reminds me of Barcelona. It is simple and distinguishable from the other teams and very nice. I be that their away jersey will be ugly when it comes out (Adidas seems to throw one ugly one to each team) so I hope we never do see it.

Grade: B-

Portugal

Speaking of nice looking stripes, the look of this away jersey is very encouraging for Portugal. It's as if Nike is telling Adidas, "Lookie, we can do stripes too!" I havn't seen a picture of their home kit yet but with a pretty boy like Ronaldo to model it, it can't help but look good on the pitch.

Grade: B-

Serbia

Yet another Away kit only team, and yet another Nike shirt with the bold stripes. Once again, I like the plain white enormously but without a home kit to look at I can 't grade it too high.

Grade: C+

Slovakia

This is about as plain as a plain shirt can get. The accent lines are about as minimalist as it can get but as least they don't detract from the look of the shirt like the accent on the Denmark home shirts.

Grade: D+

Slovenia

This is the Slovenia away kit and it is one of my favorite kits, not because it looks nice, cause really it doesn't. I like it because it reminds me of Charlie Brown. I can't help but wonder how many times the players will go to kick the ball and miss only to end up on their backs in frustration.

Grade: D

South Africa

This shirt could be confused for either Australia or Brazil if it weren't for one unique difference. Do you see it? Their logo is on the opposite side of the shirt as every other team. I don't know why the South African's have to be so different. Maybe they will wear their jerseys inside out and  backwards as well.

Grade: C

Spain

Spain sure isn't departing from the traditional kit much. going with a Red kit with yellow and blue accent. The away kit is a bit different with the navy blue and both red and yellow stripes. I hope we do get the chance to see Torres in the away kit.

Grade: B+

Switzerland

The Swiss are so proud of their team that they are the only team that needs two national logos on their jerseys (flanking the Puma logo). The design is a new one from Puma and I like it. I have no problem with the collar and I like the white accents.

Grade: B+

United States

As an American I just want to say that I am glad that our jerseys this year won't be anything like the recent gold women's jerseys. Those had to be the worst in the history of sports. From there we could only get better. As for these kits, I like the sash across the front and once again bold stripes on sleeves. I like the white kit but I wish it was the away kit and that we used some of our national colors for the home kit.

Grade: B-

Uruguay

Same design as the Swiss, but in the light blue that you would expect from Uruguay. I am not a huge fan of the starbursts all over the uniform but I suppose there could be worse patterns (plaid? how would argyle look on a uniform?).

Grade: B-

(most images: www.soccerbox.com)
(Aust away, Chile away, Germany away, Greece away, Honduras and Away, Italy Home and Away, Swiss home and away from: www.worldsoccershop.com)
(leaked images from www.myfootballkits.co.uk)
(USA home leaked image from footballfashion.wordpress.com)