Hi everybody,
Today, the football kits of the Group C for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A very interesting group, and I called it the group of surprises. England and USA will open the party on June 12 for a potential remake of 1950? who knows. Algeria one of the best African team will be difficult to play, and Slovenia will want to show that qualifying to the World Cup by beating Russia was not an accident. But let’s have a look at what these guys will be wearing on the field of play.
ENGLAND
The kits are manufactured by Umbro. Umbro is part of the Nike Group since October 2007.
The home kit is a very classy plain white jersey with a white collar, featuring a star (representing the ’66 victory) on top of the crest on the left chest.
The away kit, launched on February 10, 2010 is a plain red shirt with white end cuffs. Umbro maximised on a clean kit and emphasised their communication on their history of sports tailoring: “My taylor is rich!”
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The kits are manufactured by Nike.
Following the Nike sustainability campaign, those kits are made out of plastic bottles. The Home kit is plain white with a light grey sash that goes from the right shoulder all the way down to the left bottom of the shirt. Marine swoosh, red details on the sleeves, the Nike kits feature the DRI-FIT technology. The away kit is the opposite of the home kit in terms of colours. Simple, classy with strong traditional colours.
ALGERIA
Algeria kits are manufactured by Puma.
After defeating Egypt, “Les Fennecs” (desert foxes) made it to the World Cup. The runner up of the African Cup of Nations will be wearing a white home kit with a print of a desert fox head on the right shoulder. The away kit will be bright green with white and red pipings in length.
SLOVENIA
Kits are manufactured by Nike.
A clear underdog in this group, Slovenia will with no doubt play with nothing to lose. The kits are inovative with a “zebra” print going accross the chest. If someone could give me a canddle in the dark on the meaning of this print, I would grately apreciate. Not sure whether it is a representation of the mountains in Slovenia or energy flow….
Whether you like the print or not, both kits are simple with traditional colours.
[EDIT]: The design across the chest references Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. The name itself means “three-headed”, which points to its three peaks. Mount Triglav is also the prominent feature on Slovenia’s coat of arms.
Thank you very much FABO for the heads up! [EDIT/]
That’s it for the Group C. Stay tuned for the Group D and another article to come soon!
Karl Lusbec
PS: Thanks DM for your help on Photoshop.
XXXX
6 comments
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May 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Laurent
Well done for your kits, it is really a different way of seeing the world cup!
May 27, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Karl Lusbec
Thanks Laurent!
The football kit is a true icon for a football team, hence manufacturers invest a lot to make it commercially strong with a solid marketing strategy. Stay tuned for the next groups coming soon!
Karl
May 28, 2010 at 6:05 am
FABO
Good morning,
Karl, my beef today has to do with the licensing contracts signed between sportswear manufacturers and American professional leagues. Until recently, there was no room for competition. In American Needle versus the NFL, the Supreme Court reversed an antitrust judgment that had stood for more than a decade in the National Football League.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_mccann/05/24/nfl.antitrust/
This ruling was epic because it impacts the manner in which professional leagues in America negotiate licensing contracts. Least to say, we have not heard the end of it. Adidas and MLS (Major League Soccer) have a similar agreement in place for its 15 clubs. To me, these agreements have the bearings of a monopoly. Why stop at licensed merchandise? Why not footwear, sports drinks, protective eyewear and headgear, mouthpieces, and son on? What would prevent a similar stance being taken by European football organizations?
Much love,
FABO
May 28, 2010 at 10:34 am
Karl Lusbec
Hello FABO,
Forgive my ignorance for the NFL business model, I will share my thoughts on the MLS.
Back in 2004, adidas secured its exclusive rights to MLS clothing and equipment until 2014. The 3-stripes invested more than $150M to be the only sports brand advertised during TV broadcasts of the Major League Soccer games.
We are here in a securing exclusive rights scenario similar to the Champions League model.
The MLS has a very specific business model where it operates as an own and independant entity. It controls players transfers, negociate players’ contracts with the aim to share revenues within the league and keep a strict control on costs.
I do not think we can talk about monopoly in this case. Brands are more and more adamant to have exclusivity in their sponsorship and, along to the money they invest, want not only a great ROI but also a powerful link with the event, in this case, the football league in the US.
Thanks a bunch for your contribution FABO!
Much love
Karl
May 28, 2010 at 6:32 am
FABO
Karl, you initial instinct on the kit design of Slovenia appears on point. The design across the chest references Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. The name itself means “three-headed”, which points to its three peaks. Mount Triglav is also the prominent feature on Slovenia’s coat of arms.
FABO
May 28, 2010 at 10:34 am
Karl Lusbec
Beautiful! thanks for the info, I was not aware of this!
Karl