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2018 World Cup kit-tracker – knockout stages

17 Tuesday Jul 2018

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Second round

France 4 Argentina 3

2018-World-Cup-second-round-France-Argentina-01.png

Surprisingly, but refreshingly, both sides were allowed to wear their full first-choice kits with no alterations. Argentina exited the tournament having only used one goalkeeper kit.

Uruguay 2 Portugal 1

2018-World-Cup-second-round-Uruguay-Portugal-01

Spain 1 Russia 1 (aet, 3-4 on penalties)

2018-World-Cup-second-round-Spain-Russia-01

Russia’s home kit had match details in the middle but on the away, they were below the crest. The goalkeeper’s shirt followed suit for each game, meaning that Igor Akinfeev wore his blue (and green) kits with two different inscription versions.

Croatia 1 Denmark 1 (aet, 3-2 on penalties)

2018-World-Cup-second-round-Croatia-Denmark-01

With both of Denmark’s kits clashing with Croatia’s home, the two teams changed.

Brazil 2 Mexico 0

2018-World-Cup-second-round-Brazil-Mexico-01

In 2014, Mexico wore their away kit when the countries met in the group stage so it was nice to see both tri-coloured home strips here.

Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker switched to black, though his bright green was unlikely to have caused confusion with Mexico’s darker shade.

Belgium 3 Japan 2

2018-World-Cup-second-round-Belgium-Japan-01

This was certainly a match-up which would have resulted in one side changing kit in previous tournaments, but common sense continued to prevail in the knockout stages.

Sweden 1 Switzerland 0

2018-World-Cup-second-round-Sweden-Switzerland-01

Colombia 1 England 1 (aet, 3-4 on penalties)

2018-World-Cup-second-round-Colombia-England-01

With Colombia continuing to favour white shorts and socks, England wore their alternative away shorts, as they had done against Tunisia.

Quarter-finals

Uruguay 0 France 2

2018-World-Cup-quarter-finals-Uruguay-France-01

A fifth kit combination in as many games for France.

Brazil 1 Belgium 2

2018-World-Cup-quarter-finals-Brazil-Belgium-01

Sweden 0 England 2

2018-World-Cup-quarter-finals-Sweden-England-01

All-red for England again despite Sweden’s blue shorts – their kitman Pat Frost said that Fifa had ordered the change as Robin Olsen’s shorts were a light shade.

Russia 2 Croatia 2 (aet, 3-4 on penalties)

2018-World-Cup-quarter-finals-Russia-Croatia-01

The expectation might have been that Russia would have to change too, but they were allowed to wear their home shirts, with the proper socks back in action.

Semi-finals

France 1 Belgium 0

2018-World-Cup-semi-finals-France-Belgium-01

Another different combination for France, with the shorts changed too even though only the socks clashed. We’d have liked to have seen them in blue-white-white.

Croatia 2 England 1 (aet)

2018-World-Cup-semi-finals-Croatia-England-01

Despite being the away team, England were able to wear their home shirts, with the away shorts getting their first outing of the competition.

Croatia equalled France’s record from 2006 of wearing their change shirts for the fifth time.

Third-place play-off

Belgium 2 England 0

2018-World-Cup-third-place-play-off-Belgium-England-01

The outcome was the same as their group game but the visual was different as both teams wore their change kits, meaning England wore their proper away strip for the first time, their fourth different combination.

Final

France 4 Croatia 2

2018-World-Cup-final-France-Croatia-01

No seventh combination for France, but they won’t have minded. Croatia wore their home shirts for the first time since the Nigeria game, though again with white socks – along with Colombia, Egypt and Costa Rica, they didn’t get to wear their full first-choice outfit in the tournament.

Ten World Cup away kits which weren’t used

15 Sunday Jul 2018

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  • This article is a collaboration with the excellent RB Jerseys

The 2018 World Cup ends today with 30 of the 32 teams having used both their first and second-choice shirts at the competition. The odd sides out are Japan and Poland – their final Group H game would have been an opportunity for both to change, but this didn’t happen.

 

Unsurprisingly, to have just two away shirts unworn is a record, though one which will probably be beaten in future tournaments.

We decided to delve into the archives and pick one unused change kit from each of the past ten World Cups.

1978 – Scotland

Scotland-1978-Umbro-away-kit-01

The shorts from this kit did see action against Peru and Iran, though the white shirts and socks remained in the hamper.

Perhaps fearful of looking too much like England, Scotland opted for red change shirts for much of the early 80s, followed by yellow.

1982 – Belgium

Belgium-1982-Admiral-away-kit-World-Cup-01

Another kit which had its shorts used with the home shirts – though oddly against Argentina and not Poland – it was a pity that the yellow taping on the shorts didn’t have the red and black trim as on the shirts and socks.

1986 – England

England-1986-Umbro-away-kit-sky-blue-01

Yes, a sky-blue rather than red change kit for England in Mexico – Simon Shakeshaft says it, and we wouldn’t doubt him.

The heat was a factor in the decision (clearly, the 1970 black-and-white TV confusion wasn’t raised), though the red was brought as a third kit, primarily used for training.

The shorts and socks from this kit were used against Argentina in the quarter-finals.

1990 – Italy

Italy-1990-Diadora-away-01

The hosts were able to wear their first kit in all seven of their games at Italia 90, and it’s a pity that this wasn’t called upon.

While Italy often used the home shorts and socks with their away shirts, it’s safe to assume that they had alternative versions for the competition.

1994 – Cameroon

Cameroon-1994-Mitre-away-shirt-01

While a 1994 star-adorned shirt calls to mind the hosts USA, Cameroon also had this back-up shirt though they didn’t need to change against Brazil, Sweden or Russia.

(We’ve made an educated guess on the placement of the shirt-front number.)

1998 – Brazil

Brazil-1998-Nike-away-kit-01

Brazil wore blue in three games en route to winning in 1994, but four years later they didn’t have to change from their yellow shirts.

Had they done, they would have worn these shirts, in the same style but in the usual blue and white palette. The shorts and socks were used against Chile.

2002 – Spain

Spain-2002-adidas-away-kit-white-01

Between their 1994 quarter-final defeat to Italy and the 2010 group game against Chile, Spain only wore an away kit once, against Nigeria in 1998.

This strip was one of those not to grace the World Cup but it did see action in other games – the blue equivalent wasn’t used at all.

2006 – Germany

Germany-Deutschland-2006-adidas-auswartstrikot-01

After wearing green against England in the 1990 semi-final, Germany’s next time to wear something other than white at the World Cup was the 2010 clash with Ghana.

Under Jürgen Klinsmann, red was favoured as an alternative colour and, had they needed to change as hosts in 2006, they would have donned this imaginative style – a shirt with asymmetrical sleeve colours wouldn’t be allowed nowadays, though.

2010 – Nigeria

Nigeria-2010-adidas-away-kit-01

A lot of people were disappointed that Nigeria had to wear their change kit in two games out of three at the 2018 World Cup, but in 2010 they were able to use their first strip in all three games.

The alternative was an adidas template, but the use of the green shoulder panels meant that the shirt had adidas striping into two different colours.

2014 – Croatia

Croatia-2014-Nike-away-kit-World-Cup-01

Croatia’s first kit can often prove troublesome – while they will wear their famous chequered shirts in the final, it will be with white alternative socks, ending the tournament without having worn their full home strip.

In 2014, they were able to wear the primary shirt against Brazil, Cameroon and Mexico, meaning this smart blue outfit wasn’t called upon.

2018 World Cup kit-tracker – Group G completed

12 Thursday Jul 2018

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Belgium 3 Panama 0

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-Belgium-Panama-01

Belgium’s home kit has an argyle pattern similar to their Euro 84 strip, though the absence of the white stripe makes for a more cohesive design. The adidas stripes are a shade of red only slightly darker than the material.

Panama’s New Balance shirts are of the same basic pattern as the Costa Rica ones, featuring an intricate chevron made up of a series of squares and right angles.

Tunisia 1 England 2

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-Tunisia-England-01

Tunisia were Uhlsport’s only contract in Russia and their kits are quite pedestrian, with the ‘fade’ effect on the sides created by rectangles of decreasing size. It’s a concept repeated on the goalkeeper’s shirt though not the black shorts whereas the outfield shorts do carry it on, albeit in a truncated way.

England won thanks to a late Harry Kane goal. Their away shirts use the Nike zig-zag effect to create a representation of St George’s Flag. Intended to be worn with white shorts, the kit featured a red set three times in the World Cup, oddly featuring a black Nike logo.

Belgium 5 Tunisia 2

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-Belgium-Tunisia-01

Another game where both teams changed kits, though Belgium’s yellow shirts in the Condivo template were worth seeing, with the dual-coloured striping a nice touch.

Tunisia’s away kit was a direct reversal of the home.

England 6 Panama 1

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-England-Panama-01-01

Having had all-white home kits at the previous two World Cups, this was England’s first time to wear navy shorts in the competition since 2010. As on the away kit, the logos on the shorts and socks were ‘ghosted’.

The Panama home strip was the same design as the away, in two-tone red.

England 0 Belgium 1

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-England-Belgium-01

With both teams qualified, this game was merely to determine in which order they emerged.

Panama 1 Tunisia 2

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-Panama-Tunisia-01

While Tunisia used a third goalkeeper in three games – Aymen Mathlouthi following Mouez Hassen and Farouk Ben Mustapha – the black strip was the only one used.

2018 World Cup kit-tracker – Groups G and H

23 Saturday Jun 2018

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Belgium 3 Panama 0

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-Belgium-Panama-01

Belgium’s home kit has an argyle pattern similar to their Euro 84 strip, though the absence of the white stripe makes for a more cohesive design. The adidas stripes are a shade of red only slightly darker than the material.

Panama’s New Balance shirts are of the same basic pattern as the Costa Rica ones, featuring an intricate chevron made up of a series of squares and right angles. The home is two-tone red, with blue given prominence on the white away.

Tunisia 1 England 2

2018-World-Cup-Group-G-Tunisia-England-01

Tunisia are Uhlsport’s only contract in Russia and their kits are quite pedestrian, with the ‘fade’ effect on the sides created by rectangles of decreasing size. It’s a concept repeated on the goalkeeper’s shirt though not the black shorts whereas the outfield shorts do carry it on, albeit in a truncated way.

England’s away shirts use the Nike zig-zag effect to create a representation of St George’s Flag. Intended to be worn with white shorts, the kit featured a red set here, oddly featuring a black Nike logo.

Colombia 1 Japan 2

Colombia’s kit has 1990 as its reference point, though back then red was the first-choice colour with yellow the back-up. Apparently, the white shorts and socks are a preference of manager José Pékerman.

Their goalkeeper David Ospina wore a green Squadra 17 shirt rather than the template used by every other adidas goalkeeper It had dark green trim whereas the shorts and socks had white.

Japan’s shirts look plain on first viewing, but they are enlivened by a series of navy pinstripes and white dashes – described as a modern interpretation of a traditional kimono design.

Poland 1 Senegal 2

2018-World-Cup-Group-H-Poland-Senegal-01.png

Nike said that the diagonal graphic on the Poland shirt “represents the pride of the eagle cutting through the competition”. Ahem.

Senegal are nicknamed the Lions of Teranga and their shirts feature a lion’s face in a tribal pattern, the only real flourish added to a teamwear kit.

Fantasy Kit Friday – Nigeria 2018 World Cup special

22 Friday Jun 2018

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Today is the day so many kit aficionados have been waiting for – Nigeria will wear their home kit in the World Cup game against Iceland in Volgograd.

Nigeria-2018-Nike-home-no-marking-01

Whatever your views are on the kit, there’s no denying that it has captured the collective imagination, with Nike claiming that it broke records in terms of selling out. Obviously, the eagle motif is specifically Nigeria – though perhaps could be adapted for Lazio or Crystal Palace – but when the question was put out there, we couldn’t resist:

Time constraints have prevented us from doing all 32, but we did manage nine countries. We know that some are terrible and some ideas didn’t quite land (the Switzerland cross, for example), but it was still worth doing.

Fantasy Kit Friday – England Umbro, 2014

15 Friday Jun 2018

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We do keep a list of all of the requests people put in for FKF, but occasionally we mislay the details of who actually made a particular one and we apologise.

That was the case for the Coventry Kappa kit back in March and it’s the scenario here, if England had still had Umbro in 2014.

While the double-diamond didn’t have a huge number of contracts left after being stripped by Nike, they still had Everton, whose home kit style we used, and the Republic of Ireland, who provide the away design.

England-2014-Umbro-Fantasy-Kit-Friday-Everton-01England-2014-away-Umbro-Fantasy-Kit-Friday-Everton-01

1990 World Cup – all of the kits worn

12 Tuesday Jun 2018

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  • You’ll notice we have the word ‘worn’ in the title – change kits which didn’t get game-time aren’t included. That’s preferable to including some and then missing others we mightn’t be aware of
  • The labelling we’ve used is ‘Primary’ for the country’s first-choice kit and ‘Change’ for the second shirt; ‘Alternative’ is a kit which has different shorts or socks to the accepted make-up of a kit
  • For more information about each kit and when it was worn, see the following: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, Knockout Stages
  • Oh, and we did something similar for the 1970 World Cup

Austria

Argentina

Belgium

Brazil

Cameroon

Colombia

Costa Rica

Czechoslovakia

Egypt

England

Italy

Netherlands

Republic of Ireland

Romania

Scotland

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

USSR

UAE

USA

Primary
Alternative
Goalkeeper

Uruguay

West Germany

Yugoslavia

Match Officials

1990 World Cup kit-tracker – knockout stage

11 Monday Jun 2018

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Second round

Cameroon 2 Colombia 1 (aet)

1990-World-Cup-second-round-Cameroon-Colombia-01

A game remembered for Roger Milla’s goal as he dispossessed René Higuita, who had gone on an ill-advised dribble up the field. Higuita had clearly been impressed by the blue jersey Bodo Illgner wore against Colombia, as he was in a grey version.

His team-mates wore their yellow away shirts (Colobmbia wouldn’t change their home colours from red until 1992), which had different blue shorts to the home kit.

Their yellow socks meant Cameroon changed to green sets – even though there hadn’t been a problem with the Indomitable Lions against yellow-blue-red when they met Romania. Nor was the amount of green on Thomas N’Kono’s shirt considered a problem.

Costa Rica 1 Czechoslovakia 4

1990-World-Cup-second-round-Costa-Rica-Czechoslovakia-01

Tomáš Skuhravý scored a hat-trick for the Czechs, who wore their home socks with their change shirts.

Costa Rica wore a different red shirt to that of the group stages, with a red collar and a Lotto logo watermark. Having contravened the rules on logoless socks earlier, they wore the plain white away set here.

Meanwhile, having been there, done that and worn the three shirts, goalkeeper Luis Gabelo Conejo got injured, meaning that Hermido Barrantes took his place.

He wore a yellow version of the purple and green tops Conejo had worn, as well as having his number on his shorts.

Brazil 0 Argentina 1

1990-World-Cup-second-round-Brazil-Argentina-01

Brazil changed socks with Argentina wearing the white shorts from their away kit, the darker blue jarring with the rest.

Goycochea wore a ‘space invaders’ shirt for the first time, with the pattern the same way up as Egypt’s Ahmed Shoubeir rather than like Higuita, but arranged differently.

West Germany 2 Netherlands 1

1990-World-Cup-second-round-West-Germany-Netherlands-01

Both sides in their home strips and first-choice goalkeeper shirts.

  • Republic of Ireland 0 Romania 0 (aet, 5-4 on penalties)

1990-World-Cup-second-round-Ireland-Romania-01

Unlike 1987 against Brazil, Packie Bonner was given a proper grey adidas jersey and it was his penalty save from Daniel Timofte which allowed David O’Leary to score the penalty which sent Ireland into the quarter-finals.

The shirt differed from the yellow in that the stripes only ran to the shoulders.

Italy 2 Uruguay 0

1990-World-Cup-second-round-Italy-Uruguay-01

Uruguay wore their home shorts – with larger numbers. Given how strict Fifa are nowadays, it would be difficult to imagine a game with one team in white shirts and either goalkeeper in a grey/silver so light.

Spain 1 Yugoslavia 2 (aet)

1990-World-Cup-second-round-Spain-Yugoslavia-01

Yugoslavia changed to their away kit, with goalkeeper Tomislav Ivković wearing a proper adidas shirt instead of a rebadged Uhlsport. His top – officially named Montevideo rather than ‘scribbles’ –  differed from Jan Stejskal’s and Tony Meola’s in that the pattern was entirely grey.

England 1 Belgium 0 (aet)

1990-World-Cup-second-round-England-Belgium-01

David Platt scored a winner in injury time at the end of extra time, both sides in first-choice kits.

Quarter-finals

Argentina 0 Yugoslavia 0 (aet, 3-2 on penalties)

1990-World-Cup-quarter-final-Argentina-Yugoslavia-01

A first outing for Argentina’s change shirts, worn with the home shorts and socks while Yugoslavia wore their red socks.

One difference among the Argentina team was that Diego Maradona opted to wear a pair of Napoli away socks, featuring the Ennerre logo. They didn’t help him to score his penalty in the shootout, but Goycochea’s heroics saw them through.

Argentina-1990-adidas-away-kit-Yugoslavia-Maradona-Napoli-socks-01Italy 1 Republic of Ireland 0

1990-World-Cup-quarter-final-Italy-Ireland-01

Magic socks couldn’t help Maradona and meeting Pope John Paul II wasn’t enough to save Ireland as Toto Schillaci scored again.

West Germany 1 Czechoslovakia 0

1990-World-Cup-quarter-final-West-Germany-Czechoslovakia-01

Another straightforward home kit v home kit game for Germany.

England 3 Cameroon 2 (aet)

1990-World-Cup-quarter-final-England-Cameroon-01

Two Cameroon goals in five second-half minutes had them on course for victory but a pair of Gary Lineker penalties sent England through.

Semi-finals

Italy 1 Argentina 1 (aet, 3-4 on penalties)

1990-World-Cup-semi-final-Italy-Argentina-01

Schillaci netted again, but Claudio Caniggia equalised for Argentina and Goycochea came up trumps in the shootout again.

Having considered Argentina’s stripes to clash with blue shirts and white shorts in the previous round, Fifa allowed both home strips here.

England 1 West Germany 1 (aet, 3-4 on penalties)

1990-World-Cup-semi-final-England-West-Germany-01

Both sides had worn their home kits up until now, with England winning the toss for colours.

As with their home strip, Germany had had the same basic change kit since 1988, but originally it had a collar. Penalty misses by Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle meant that Germany advanced.

Third-place play-off

Italy 2 England 1

1990-World-Cup-third-place-play-off-Italy-England-01

The purpose of this fixture was actually to reward the two teams who had gone through the tournament wearing only one kit (and not having to change goalkeeper shirts), it just so happened that they were the two beaten semi-finalists.

Final

West Germany 1 Argentina 0

1990-World-Cup-final-West-Germany-Argentina-01

It was the same final pairing as four years previously, when Argentina had won in their home kit.

This time, they were in the darker blue, with Goycochea wearing the same socks as the rest of the team.

A penalty decided it for Germany – having scored from the spot against Czechoslovakia, captain Lothar Matthäus declined to take the kick when they were awarded it as he was wearing a new pair of boots.

Instead, his Inter Milan clubmate Andreas Brehme, normally left-footed, scored with his right foot to give them glory.

 

1990 World Cup kit-tracker – Group F

09 Saturday Jun 2018

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Republic of Ireland 1 England 1

1990-World-Cup-Group-F-Ireland-England-01.png

Five of the six games played in this group finished in draws. Ireland’s kit was a subtle evolution on their Euro 88 shirt with the addition of tonal chevrons in the fabric, an effect repeated on the goalkeeper’s shirt – Packie Bonner’s kit had the adidas striping in three different colours due to the mismatching socks.

Along with fellow Umbro side Scotland, England were the only country at the World Cup to have a crest on their shorts, while they had a ‘Fifa World Cup Italy ’90’ inscription on their shirts too.

Netherlands 1 Egypt 1

1990-World-Cup-Group-F-Netherlands-Egypt-01

Our best guess for both countries being in their away kits is that Fifa wouldn’t allow the green Egypt change shirt to be worn against orange, as would be the case for the Netherlands’ game with Ireland.

Egypt’s shirts were the same as Cameroon’s home but in a different shade of green, while goalkeeper Ahmed Shoubeir had a shirt like one of those worn by Colombia’s René Higiuita – but with the pattern facing the opposite way vertically.

England 0 Netherlands 0

1990-World-Cup-Group-F-England-Netherlands-01

England would be able to wear their home kit for every game, while goalkeeper Peter Shilton didn’t have to change either.

His opposite number Hans van Breukelen had two versions of the same design, one not worn by any other keeper. He was also the only goalkeeper at the tournament to wear white shorts.

But for the black adidas trefoil on the shorts, the Dutch kit would have been a full reversal of the change strip.

Egypt 0 Republic of Ireland 0

1990-World-Cup-Group-F-Egypt-Ireland-01

A game which has gone down in infamy in Ireland for its lack of quality, as well as starting a rift between manager Jack Charlton and TV analyst Eamon Dunphy.

As on their change kit, Egypt’s home shorts were white, but with red accents. Ireland’s kit kept the same neck as the home version but swapped green and white everywhere else.

England 1 Egypt 0

1990-World-Cup-Group-F-England-Egypt-01

Mark Wright’s goal ensured England topped the group and eliminated Egypt.

Netherlands 1 Republic of Ireland 1

1990-World-Cup-Group-F-Netherlands-Ireland-01

Both sets of outfielders had their shorts numbers on the right leg, while Hans van Breukelen and Packie Bonner had theirs on the left.

Ruud Gullit put Holland ahead and then Niall Quinn equalised, with the rest of the game played out in a gentle, unthreatening fashion as both teams knew the result would send them through.

With indentical records, lots were drawn to determine second and third place – Ireland won out, meaning they faced Romania in the last 16 while the Netherlands would have to face West Germany.

 

1970 World Cup – all of the kits

26 Saturday May 2018

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  • Note: ‘Primary’ obviously refers to a country’s first-choice kit, while ‘Alternative’ here means the main shirt with different shorts/socks, ‘Change’ is the second or third kit 
  • See here for Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and the knockout stages

Belgium

Brazil

Bulgaria

Czechoslovakia

El Salvador

England

Israel

Italy

Mexico

Morocco

Peru

Romania

Sweden

Uruguay

USSR

West Germany

Referees