As the clock continues to kick to kickoff, with only nine days to kickoff of the Women's World Cup in Canada and fourteen days to the Copa America in Chile, the rundown of the uniforms for the teams in both of these tournaments continues, today with Group B of both tournaments.
At the top of Group B on the women's side sits Germany, the number 1 team in the world and one of the favorites to win this World Cup, along with France, the USA, and defending champions Japan. The Germans, two-time champions, wear a traditional primary kit, all-white with red and black accents, in the style the men's team won the World Cup in last year; their secondary kit, however, is much different from the one worn by the men: solid red with only black accents. No white appears on the secondary adidas jersey.
Côte d'Ivoire, or Ivory Coast in English, are the lowest-ranked team to have qualified for Canada 2015, at 67th in the world. The Ivorians are another one of the teams to have not changed their kits for this season, sticking with the all-orange from Puma for the primary kit and monochrome green for the secondary. Although the kits pictured were worn by the men's team, the only difference for the women is the cut of the jersey itself. One thing to take note of is that there is still a possibility of a third kit being introduced by Ivory Coast, likely in white, to allow for a "light" colored option.
Although the biggest controversy leading up to the World Cup came over some matches being played on turf, in Europe some heads were turned towards the Norway national team, who currently sit 11th in the world. When the first kits for the country from Nike were seen on pitch for the first time, the women's team didn't have the female-cut kits, instead wearing "gender-neutral" jerseys. After some uproar, Nike said that they would provide new kits, but not before the world cup. Therefore, by default, the Norweigans will be the worst-dressed team at this tournament BY FAR. Ouch.
The final team in Group B on the women's side is Thailand, who will be making their World Cup debut this spring and summer. The women, who currently sit 29th in the world, will be sporting new jerseys from Grand Sport, a Thai manufacturer, in primary red and secondary blue options. As with Ivory Coast, there is the possibility of FIFA forcing Thailand to introduce a third kit, most likely in white, to provide a "light" option.
The best team in Group B of the 2015 Copa America is easily Argentina, the 14-time continental champions. Los Albicelestes, who finished runners-up at the last World Cup and currently sit 2nd in the world, are the favorites to take the title this year in Chile. adidas has done another stellar job with the Argentina uniforms, going classic blue-and-white stripes on the primary kit and a full-navy blue look for the secondary kit.
Yet another team in the Puma skintight uniforms, Uruguay help contribute to making Group B the "Group of Death" at this Copa America. The defending champions, currently 8th in the world, had a disappointing showing at the World Cup, but look to bounce back this year. Obviously, karma does not play a major role at Uruguay, as La Celeste will be wearing the same kits for the second year running, sky blue on the primary and all-white for the secondary kit.
On the bottom half of Group B, the future does not look bright in this tournament for either of the bottom two teams. Paraguay sit 81st in the world, next-to-last in CONMEBOL. Although their tournament hopes might not be sharp, their adidas kits are: Paraguay will wear red and white stripes on the primary kit and go with a solid grey secondary kit that includes sublimated light grey hoops down the front.
The final team in Group B is the second of two CONCACAF teams, Jamaica. The Reggae Boyz changed kit manufacturers from 2014 to 2015, going now with Romai Sportswear, a UAE-based manufacturer. The kits were revealed earlier in the year to very little fanfare, showing that the 74th-ranked Jamaicans will be wearing two non-white kits this year, green as the primary and yellow as the secondary kit.
With the Women's World Cup starting in just nine days, it becomes crunc time to finish uniform rundowns. Group C in both tournaments might be up tomorrow, Saturday at the latest. Yes, this will be the quickest I have posted two posts yet, but get used to it. Three major international tournamens this summer requires it.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Group A- WWC, Copa America
Although this is a bit late, the rundown of the uniforms for both the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Copa America are here, starting in Group A for both competitions. Firstly, the uniforms of the teams in Group A of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup:
The top team in Group A is the host, Canada. The Canadien women, currently ranked 8th in the world, are making just their fifth appearance at a world cup, this time not having to qualify by virtue of being the host nation. Canada unveiled new primary and secondary kits for 2015, although they don't stray much from previous Canada kits. The primary red kit and secondary white kit both do not stray much from previous jerseys, although the sublimation applied to the white jersey by Umbro is certainly unique in the footballing world.
The second-best team in Group A is the 12th ranked Leeuwinnen, or Lionesses, of the Netherlands, who have qualified for their first ever world cup. The Holland women are sticking with the same primary kit they wore in qualifying for the World Cup, the all-orange ensemble, but have changed their secondary kit to a white jersey that virtually mirrors the primary. This white kit from Nike replaces the blue design worn by the team in qualifying for the World Cup.
The final two teams in Group A are currently ranked 16th and 17th in the world, China PR and New Zealand, respectively. China PR, or the Forceful Roses as they are known in their home country, are in their first year as a Nike team after more than 30 years with adidas. For their first year with a new supplier, China PR will be wearing two heavily templated designs, all red for the primary kit and an all-white secondary. Both jerseys are based off of generic Nike templates, unlike last year's adidas design, which featured a custom-designed look featuring dragon scales on the front of the kit.
The Football Ferns of New Zealand are appearing in their fourth World Cup, but enter as the underdogs of Group A. This position as underdog is reinforced in that New Zealand has never won a World Cup match in nine tries and has only scored five goals in their WWC history. The Football Ferns will be wearing the plainest kits of the group, all white for their primary kit and all black for the secondary from Nike.
Kicking off the 44th Copa America will be the hosts, Chile, who hold the title of being the best team in Group A at 16th in the world. Although things could change between now and the first match for Chile, it appears that they will be wearing the same kits worn at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, the skintight red primaries and white secondary kits from Puma.
One of two guest teams to the tournament, along with Jamaica, Mexico are one of the favorites to advance out of group play, although their adidas jerseys do them no favors. For the first time in national team history, Mexico, who enter 22nd in the world, are not wearing a green kit. To add to the misery, there is no real green on either the primary black or secondary white kits, instead featuring a neon shade of green that might best be described as lime green, not the national color.
Topping the list of "major teams with tiny uniform suppliers" is Ecuador, who sits 34th in the world, but still gets jerseys from Marathon, a company based in Ecuador. The national team kits haven't changed much in the last 15 years, with the same basic design sticking around on the primary yellow and secondary blue jerseys. Just like Chile, it appears that Ecuador will be sticking with the uniforms they wore at last summer's World Cup through 2015 as well.
The final team in Group A of this Copa America is currently the worst team in CONMEBOL, Bolivia, who currently sit 92nd in the world. The Bolivian team made a major jump before this tournament, which many in the country see as a starting point towards international viability, and Bolivia reinforced that idea by getting new uniforms for the first time in three years They join Ecuador as the only two national teams sponsored by Marathon, but will stick with the basic primary green and secondary white jerseys.
Now that school is winding down, the soccer season jumps into full swing, so I should be coming out with more posts on a regular basis, most likely once or twice a week, covering the uniforms of all of the teams in the Women's World Cup, Copa America, and the Gold Cup. If my next post isn't up tomorrow, it will be by next Sunday. Hopefully.
The top team in Group A is the host, Canada. The Canadien women, currently ranked 8th in the world, are making just their fifth appearance at a world cup, this time not having to qualify by virtue of being the host nation. Canada unveiled new primary and secondary kits for 2015, although they don't stray much from previous Canada kits. The primary red kit and secondary white kit both do not stray much from previous jerseys, although the sublimation applied to the white jersey by Umbro is certainly unique in the footballing world.
The second-best team in Group A is the 12th ranked Leeuwinnen, or Lionesses, of the Netherlands, who have qualified for their first ever world cup. The Holland women are sticking with the same primary kit they wore in qualifying for the World Cup, the all-orange ensemble, but have changed their secondary kit to a white jersey that virtually mirrors the primary. This white kit from Nike replaces the blue design worn by the team in qualifying for the World Cup.
The final two teams in Group A are currently ranked 16th and 17th in the world, China PR and New Zealand, respectively. China PR, or the Forceful Roses as they are known in their home country, are in their first year as a Nike team after more than 30 years with adidas. For their first year with a new supplier, China PR will be wearing two heavily templated designs, all red for the primary kit and an all-white secondary. Both jerseys are based off of generic Nike templates, unlike last year's adidas design, which featured a custom-designed look featuring dragon scales on the front of the kit.
The Football Ferns of New Zealand are appearing in their fourth World Cup, but enter as the underdogs of Group A. This position as underdog is reinforced in that New Zealand has never won a World Cup match in nine tries and has only scored five goals in their WWC history. The Football Ferns will be wearing the plainest kits of the group, all white for their primary kit and all black for the secondary from Nike.
Kicking off the 44th Copa America will be the hosts, Chile, who hold the title of being the best team in Group A at 16th in the world. Although things could change between now and the first match for Chile, it appears that they will be wearing the same kits worn at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, the skintight red primaries and white secondary kits from Puma.
One of two guest teams to the tournament, along with Jamaica, Mexico are one of the favorites to advance out of group play, although their adidas jerseys do them no favors. For the first time in national team history, Mexico, who enter 22nd in the world, are not wearing a green kit. To add to the misery, there is no real green on either the primary black or secondary white kits, instead featuring a neon shade of green that might best be described as lime green, not the national color.
Topping the list of "major teams with tiny uniform suppliers" is Ecuador, who sits 34th in the world, but still gets jerseys from Marathon, a company based in Ecuador. The national team kits haven't changed much in the last 15 years, with the same basic design sticking around on the primary yellow and secondary blue jerseys. Just like Chile, it appears that Ecuador will be sticking with the uniforms they wore at last summer's World Cup through 2015 as well.
The final team in Group A of this Copa America is currently the worst team in CONMEBOL, Bolivia, who currently sit 92nd in the world. The Bolivian team made a major jump before this tournament, which many in the country see as a starting point towards international viability, and Bolivia reinforced that idea by getting new uniforms for the first time in three years They join Ecuador as the only two national teams sponsored by Marathon, but will stick with the basic primary green and secondary white jerseys.
Now that school is winding down, the soccer season jumps into full swing, so I should be coming out with more posts on a regular basis, most likely once or twice a week, covering the uniforms of all of the teams in the Women's World Cup, Copa America, and the Gold Cup. If my next post isn't up tomorrow, it will be by next Sunday. Hopefully.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
NEW POST SCHEDULE
It seems that college baseball and softball just don't have the coverage of other sports such as basketball, so I will be abandoning the idea of making the next set of posts on them. Instead, with the large amount of international soccer being played this summer (FIFA Women's World Cup, Copa America, Gold Cup), I will instead be turning my attention to the national teams playing in these tournaments. The WWC will be starting on June 6, so I will try to cover the uniforms being worn by the 24 teams in the tournament in the days before it starts, going group by group. I will be doing the same for both the CONMEBOL Copa America and its 12 teams, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 12 teams participating there. Hopefully, I should have up the uniform rundown for Group A of the Women's World Cup done by Friday at the latest, and the other five groups done by the June 6 kickoff date. Hopefully.
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