Despite this year’s Euro 2020 being postponed until 2021 due to a certain global pandemic that hasn’t had much news coverage over the past seven months… sarcasm – plenty of kit providers have released each qualified nation’s kits for the tournament, regardless of the delay.
Manufacturers such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, etc. have produced some of the best and most unique designs we have seen for quite some time. No more are the generic and boring templates of yesteryears dominating the kit landscape, and they are finally starting to take inspiration from the cultures and kit history of the designated countries – giving us unique and interesting designs that quite frankly, are going down a storm at the moment.
After a long time of speculation and multiple fake leaks, the majority of the home kits that will be donned by the qualified countries for the tournament have now been officially released – so look’s as though it is time to pick our top 10 of the Euro 2020 Home Kits…
10. Germany
Die Mannschaft and Adidas have produced a simple one here, and it’s okay. Nothing stands out much, the white base and black stripes are something we have seen feature on Germany’s home kits before, and the stripes look like someone forgot to print them, so quickly got hold of a Sharpie to fix the mistake. The cuffs on the sleeves are the best part of the kit, paying homage to the countries flag in a funkier and edgier way rather than just block colours. In terms of on the pitch, the Germans have a strong squad and could go far in next year’s competition, and it’ll be done in this strip.
9. Croatia
Hrvatska – we have become accustomed to the classic red and white squares that feature on the countries kits over the years, always changing sizes from big to small, too big again. This year, Nike has gone very big, but I quite like it. It’s the synonymous look you get with Croatia’s home shirts, it’s just a shame the check print doesn’t continue on the back of the shirt due to UEFA’s regulations having to leave it free for the player name and number prints to be visible – the bunch of party poopers. The sleeves also provide a nice contrast in patterns, rather than the same check, and the blue stripes down either side are a nice touch too.
8. Turkey
It is so incredibly simples but I really like that. It isn’t particularly hard to incorporate all of the countries colours of their flag, it is simply just red and white, so job well done there from Nike. My favourite part is the lack of a badge, instead opting for the countries Al Bayrak as a panel across the front of the kit. The thing about Turkey’s home kit is that there isn’t much to say about it, but that is one of the things that makes it great – no overuse of detail and patterns, no intricacies that make you think or hidden gems you have to keep an eye out for – it’s base white, with red collar and sleeve hems, and the countries flag stretched across the face of it. A great job in my opinion.
7. Wales
Wales and Adidas have teamed up for a great one here, I really like it. The German manufacturers have opted for a more retro feel with their kits for next year’s tournament, and they have hit the nail on the head with Wales. The red base colour and orange Adidas logo and three stripes work fantastically, but it is the new federation badge that is one of the standouts. The retro shield design with the iconic Welsh dragon sews it all together, and along with the cuffed sleeves with the orange, red, white, and black – it makes for a truly wonderful shirt that the Y Dreigiau faithful will enjoy. Side note – I’m disappointed that Ethan Ampadu shaved off that magnificent barnet, sigh.
6. Finland
Now would you look at that, Finland, Suomi – you’ve pulled one out of the bag here. Nike has produced a simple yet incredibly effective kit for the Finnish faithful here. The cross that fades from black to blue looks magnificent, and really carries the whole thing. Of course, that is the main focal point of the whole kit so it is doing what it’s supposed too, but it does it so well – the gold Nike tick and trim of the national team badge is a nice touch as well. Considering this is the countries first-ever major tournament in their history, they’ll take to the pitch in style.
5. Belgium
This is where we get to the big guns – starting with the Belgian Red Devils. The kit is great, and also features a new federation badge like aforementioned Wales. The trim of the collar and sleeves are standout, along with the black and contrasting red brushstroke style stripes that feature across the face of the kit. Again, however, the pattern doesn’t feature at all on the back because of that stupid regulation – again, bore off UEFA. That would probably be the only let down for the kit as a whole – but that is nothing to the fault of Adidas or the design they have gone for so we can let the off this time around. Also, a quick side note about the badge, I’m not sure if this is just in my brain but it gives off the vibe of the Italy badge from the mid 80’s to late 90’s, or maybe not, maybe I’ve just finally lost the plot.
4. Italy
Finally, a collar! There may be some slight bias in this one, likely because I’m part Italian, and not many people have liked this – but tough. The print is inspired by the traditional mosaics and architecture of the old Renaissance era, which also featured on the countries ‘Renaissance third kit’. Instead, in the countries classic home kit blue, along with the gold Puma logos and the newish federation badge with the four World Cup stars above, yes that’s right, four… along with the darker blue trim collar and sleeves, the Azzuri will be heading into next years competition with a great kit, and Puma’s only feature in the whole top 10.
3. Netherlands
Oranje – Netherlands and Nike have made a real gem here. Taking inspiration from the early 2000 home kits with the black trim collar, the kit also features a darker orange pattern that eventually eludes to the infamous face of the Dutch lion that features on the badge. What makes it even better is that, unlike many of the other kits, the pattern continues on the back – thank the lord. Luckily the colour scheme of the pattern means that the printed names and numbers are more than easily visible – unlucky UEFA, you couldn’t stop the Dutch.
2. France
C’est Magnifique! Nike and France have come in at second place here and rightly so – taking inspiration from the Adidas kits of 1984 and 1998, with the fantastic red stripe across the face of the kit. The contrasting blue stripe that features down the kit is actually rather mesmerising, the pattern also continues on the back, bonus. The white Nike and National Team badge show up really well against the colour scheme, but I just can’t get away from the red stripe, it is genuinely lovely and just ties everything together so well. France often hit the mark every time they bring out a new kit, and they have continued to do so again.
1. England
I can just picture Baddiel, Skinner, and Lighting Seeds bursting out Three Lions in this thing of beauty.
For me, it’s the best England shirt for 20 years, and I am a sucker for a central badge. As we always expect the England home kit to be, it is white, but with the black trim collar with the slight red and royal blue line through it paying slight homage to that of the 2000 home kit, as well as the same colour scheme for the collar down the zig-zag sides of the kit.
If you look closely enough, the zig-zag print down the side actually features the embossed three lions down it, rather than just the dark blue that it first appears like.
This is the best home kit for next year’s Euro’s and yes I’m English and yes this may seem bias, but even if I wasn’t I’d still be right. Up the Three Lions, football’s coming home.