Top 5 Kits at Euro 2012

It's safe to say that a big talking point in sport at the moment is Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine. Regardless of whether you have any interest in football, you will most likely be aware of it's existence (unless, apparently, you're an Iranian woman...) Despite the endless reams of journalistic speculation on the tournament winners and England's lack of ability, I'm yet to see anything written about the kits at this year's competition. I propose the following hypothetical question: Maybe those that look the best will play the best...?


We've seen some vomit-worthy 'colourful' kits from our European neighbours in the past, such as this Adidas number from Holland's Euro winning 1988 team:

Or the German version of the same shirt design:

With that in mind, let's see if 20 years on there has been any improvement...















#5 - England's away kit

If we've learnt anything from the past, it's that the simplicity of the shirt design is of paramount importance to not looking like a mug. Here they've gone for a simple, old-fashioned light blue collar, with a plain, dark blue shirt and a matching light blue number on the chest. It is decidedly 'no thrills' (much like England's style of football), but I like it. Although I would quite like to see where the blue is on the St. George's cross...







#4 - Poland's home kit

By contrast, a kit that actually represents a team's national colours... I like the layout of the three logos at the top of the shirt, and they've even managed to fit in a number in the middle block without making the shirt look cluttered. If their football can live up to the organisation of their shirt, then they're in with a chance of doing well...







#3 - Spain's home kit

Okay so it's hardly groundbreaking, and we have barely seen the Spain kit change at all in the last 20 years, but their 'if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it' approach is refreshing. It also means that fans who bought a Spain shirt 10 years ago (that they can still fit into...) won't look out of place now amongst more up-to-date fans. The fact that they have won the last two major tournaments might also play a part in their desire to stick to a winning formula.







#2 - Holland's away kit

Football's answer to rugby's 'All Blacks', this team has a similar reputation as one of the world's best (okay so I know they normally play in orange...). With this kit they'll be looking as slick as their attacking play, sporting a minimalist design with a subtle splash of their signature orange. If they are to win this tournament, then undoubtedly they will do so in some style.







#1 - France's home kit

In the wise words of French legend Thierry Henry, this shirt most definitely has 'Va Va Voom'. It might not be spectacular, but they've styled the shirt in subtle ways to give them the best possible chance of becoming les champions. The horizontal dark stripes running down the shirt and sleeves will appear to broaden the players chests, making them seem impossibly intimidating to their opponents. The all-important finishing touch is the golden contrast on the crest and squad numbers. Gold is the colour of winners, which this writer is predicting as the most likely outcome for the ultra-stylish French...