Making adjustments and getting business done in this strange new climate, Nike drop their full line-up of 2020/21 European international home and away kits ahead of the next round of international fixtures in one gigantic, fun-filled swoop.
Rarely has there ever been an occasion that has warranted such a release, but bringing to mind the Epic WWC19 Innovation Event in Paris that showcased the kits of all 14 competing Nike National Teams ahead of the Women’s World Cup, Nike have unveiled all of their European international home and away shirts for the 2020/21 season, with Holland, France, Finland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Croatia and Turkey joining England.
Starting with Holland, and Nike have blessed the Dutch with a fresh take on the classic Oranje, with the lion roaring from the very heart of the design. Appearing on the Netherlands’ coat of arms and the KNVB crest, the lion’s characteristics of pride, strength and courage are celebrated in an innovative new home design that includes an exclusive knit depicting the face of a brave and fearless lion.
The black away shirt features a button-down collar with orange trim, and those buttons are inscribed with the words “KNVB/Nederland.” Flashes of vivid orange light up the jersey in the shape of a Nike Swoosh, crest and side stripes, also embossed with the KNVB wordmark.
Next up, the France design sees two generations of world champions connected in a collection that celebrates the best of contemporary French streetwear and art. The new home shirt takes its lead from the iconic marinière design with the red band across the chest joined by blue stripes flowing horizontally over a darker blue base. France’s new away shirt is as elegant as it is edgy. Presented in pure white from head to toe, the minimal design is garnished with blue detailing and tricolor side stripes on the jersey and shorts.
Both home and away carry the motto of the French Republic – “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” – tucked away inside the shirt as an inner pride feature, while they also feature an exclusive font inspired by typography found at an institute of book history in Lyon.
For Croatia, the renowned checks are big and bold on a traditional home shirt. The real point of notice for them is the a stealthy, dark away shirt, which features an abstract black and anthracite checkerboard aesthetic that spreads across the shirt.
Poland dig into the archives to draw inspiration from a golden era for the team, with the eagle’s return to the heart of the shirt, harking back to the late 1970s and early 1980s when Poland twice finished third in the world.
Reigning continental champions Portugal boast a crisp and elegant design, with the nation’s traditional red and green home colours garnished with gold to create a look worthy of footballing royalty. And while that is a regal look, the away shirt takes things in an entirely new direction. The teal base colour takes inspiration from the team’s 2016 away kit, and the chunky colour-blocked horizontal stripes are borrowed from the federation's 2018 training top. The lowest of the three stripes flows all the way around the back of the jersey, while black cuffs and side stripes frame the design perfectly.
Both of Turkey’s offerings place the emphasis squarely on an enlarged crescent and star that feature on the centre of the chest band. Both jerseys have the phrase “Turkiyem,” or “My Turkey,” printed inside the shirt as an inner pride feature.
Norway’s dramatic landscapes provide the inspiration for the elemental beauty of the national team’s 2020 collection. Linked by an overarching theme of “Fire and Ice,” Norway’s home kit smoulders, while the away captures the rugged terrain and glaciers of Nordic lands.
And we finish with the Finnish. And we swear we didn’t save them til last just for that joke... The collection is inspired by the fearless attitude that helped the men’s team secure qualification for a first major tournament. The new Finland home shirt leans heavily on the flag, a white background providing the base for a blue cross that stretches the length and breadth of the jersey. The vertical stripe fades from royal to dark blue, while the horizontal stripe travels from shoulder to shoulder and houses a gold Nike Swoosh and gold trimmed national team crest.
The 20/21 Nike Federation kits will be at prodirectsoccer.com
