HOME SHIRT:
Design - 6/10 - This England kit really does lack any kind of excitement, some may say it foreshadows the type of football we have been playing in recent friendlies. An all white kit just lacks that tiny bit of colour, even a slight hint of blue could make it better. With a somewhat classic feel to it, everything has been stuck to its original roots, examples are the badge's and the colour, I really dislike the V-Neck collar also as it just doesn't possess that shirt like style; it would seem a lot of teams have gone for this approach this World Cup letting the colourfulness of Brazil shine through. An area I do like is the fact they haven't gone over the top and pulled out a shocker like an early 90's prem kit, perhaps as kit developers Nike have matured to show class.
Relevance - 9/10 - Key area's this strip has kept with is the relevance it has with pre-successors, so things like the retro aspect with placement of the badge highlight the '66 champions, they have also stuck with the single star above the three lions to show the nation has won the cup before. The fact that England have had a solid crest for so long shows commitment and confidence stating that we as a nation are the three lions, always with our team.
Comparison to Last Kit - Last years kit was under looked I feel, as it was a brilliant representation of a classic style kit that was still nice to look at; this year, it's again a classic kit but it just isn't so easy on the eye. The blue round neck, the blue shorts and the trimmed socks just cut through the white, giving an even balance and the crest was decorated beneath with a classy banner but now it's just a pure white drop with such a lack in many departments. Overall the previous years' kit was a real winner over this new, lack luster strip.
AWAY SHIRT:
Design - 8/10 - When it comes to home and away, for some strange reason the away kit always sits head and shoulders above the home in all area's. Again, this rule has proven true as this new England away strip has a real touch of class and has kept true to it's roots. A royal red shirt tipped with a neat round neck collar, keeping the traditions of an England shirt works well and is almost a rouge reflection on the previous years home shirt. White shorts and the red trim along with the red socks seem to sit so swell, side by side with the classic shirt design, giving of a real fanciful football kit feel.
Relevance - 9/10 - All credit has to go to Nike and the kit designers here, as much like they did with the home kit, they have nailed it's relevance to England as a national side. The attention to detail upon the reflection of previous kits, the positioning of the three lions on the heart and also the lone star above the crest all need to be highlighted as they are what give the England squad their personality. Ever since Nike has made the shirts they have had real class, maturity and patriotic aspects giving a nation a great set of strips.
Comparison to Last Kit - This ones a seriously tough comparison to last years away kit, as the only thing that really seperates the two is the fact that last years had a polo neck collar. If I were to wear a kit as a fan I'd prefer last years because the polo feel goes with more clothing but as a footballing strip this years just pips it at the post. Both look great and are awesome kits so I don't think I can choose a winning strip.
Overall it doesn't matter about the kit that the squad is wearing, it's about how the men who have earnt it perform. What looks to be a young, inexperienced England squad going to Brazil, they must show much like the kit they are wearing, maturity, class and hints of heroes from the past, hopefully giving us a nation something to be proud of. One things for certain is that this summer is going to be a fantastic footballing showcase with pleanty of stunning action.
