Question asked by Cyprien on June 11.
Hello,
You asked CheckNews why the Italian football team is playing with a blue jersey when this color does not appear on its flag. Like other selections, you have to look into the past, sometimes distant, of each country, to understand the choice of colors.
In this article, we take a closer look at the teams that, like Italy, have shirts that are not really obvious. The selections of Austria, Sweden, Turkey, England, Hungary, Scotland, Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, etc. will therefore be absent from this overview. Croatia, Poland and Switzerland, whose equipment is directly inspired by the flag of their country.
Italy, the royal tribute
The flag of Italy is green, white and red, yet neither of these colors appears on the Squadra Azzura home shirt. To find out why, we have to go back to the 19th century. In 1861, Victor-Emmanuel II became the first King of unified Italy. His family, the House of Savoy, reigned over the country until 1946. At the time, the flag of Italy was adorned with the coat of arms of the House of Savoy. These are surrounded by blue, an emblematic color of the Italian royal family. Founded in 1898, the Italian Football Federation began to use the color blue in 1911 to pay homage to the history of the country.
Netherlands, orange above all
With a blue, white and red flag, the Dutch do not display these colors on their outfit. More than a jersey, it’s a whole nation that identifies with a unique color, orange. This refers to the Dutch aristocracy during the Orange-Nassau dynasty. In the 16th century, William of Orange of Nassau offered independence to the Netherlands during a revolt against the Spaniards of Charles Quint. Orange finally becomes the color of the country in the 19th century. Since then, Dutch supporters have been nicknamed the “Oranje”.
France and its emblematic rooster
The France team has been playing in blue for many decades already, but this has not always been the case. During the first meeting in their history on May 1, 1904 against Belgium, the Blues wore a white jersey with, in crest, the two interlaced red and blue rings of the Union of French Athletic Sports Societies.
Then, France alternates between blue, white and red. It was when the French Football Federation was created in 1920 that the benchmark outfit truly became the blue jersey, white shorts and red socks. If the colors used at home for shorts and socks have evolved over time, France has remained blue as its nickname suggests.
From 1909, the emblem of the French team became the rooster. The iconic animal changed shape and colors during the evolution of the Tricolores. Usually golden, the color of the rooster changes depending on the jerseys. Since 1998 and the first title of world champion, a star has been added to the rooster. In 2018, a second star joined her.
Germany, the white of the empire
The German football team wears a white jersey, yet absent from its flag (black, red, yellow), which came into being during the Weimar Republic (1919-1933). A choice which derives from the flag of Prussia in the 19th century and then from the standard of the German Empire (1871-1918) and the royal family of Hohenzollerns. The shorts are black and the eagle, the emblem of the jersey, is that of William II of Prussia, German Emperor (1888-1918).
In its first official match, the Nationalmannschaft did not wear its traditional white jersey against Switzerland in 1908. It won the selection from the World Cup in 1934. This tradition has continued over the decades.
Wales, the mythical red dragon
Symbol of Wales, the dragon is the emblem of the Roman troops who occupied the country in the 3rd and 4th century. When they left, in the following century, the Celts took it over to establish their authority over the territory. “The dragon also occupies a central role in several medieval writings”, says Glyn E. German, author of the book A chronology of the history of Wales. We find its presence as early as the 9th century. Today, the red color of this mythical creature inspires Welsh home attire.
Belgium, the white devils
The Devils, the nickname of Belgium’s national team, have not always been red. During their first matches between 1900 and 1902, the Belgians tried their hand at white before switching to red. It was not until the 1970s and the appointment of Raymond Goethals as coach of Belgium to see white dominate over Belgian outfits. Picky, the Brussels technician chose this color to allow his players to find their way more easily on the pitch, because the lighting was weak at the time. Since 1980, the Belgians have played at home in red.
Russia, nostalgia for the USSR?
The Russian flag inspires OEMs. Since 1992, the year in which the Russian Football Federation was formed after the fall of the USSR, Russian tunics have alternated between blue, white and red. Since the appearance of Adidas on Russia’s kits in 2009, red has become the main color of the home shirt. A shade also used for Soviet Union shirts. At the time, they were also made by Adidas.
North Macedonia, the rejected lynx
North Macedonia is participating for the first time in its history in a final phase of a major competition. Macedonians had to wear a swimsuit adorned with a lynx’s head, a symbol of the Balkans instead of the Balkan sun, which is very popular in the region. This jersey was also a burgundy red color which does not match the lighter shade of red used historically. This greatly displeased the supporters of the country and the president of the Macedonian Football Federation (FFM), Muamed Sejdini. “Unfortunately, the technical support regarding the color of the jersey does not meet the requirements of the FFM.”
Faced with the outcry, Jako, the equipment supplier of North Macedonia, therefore decided to provide the 2016 jersey to compete in this Euro on which we find the Balkan sun.
Ukraine, Crimea in the heart
Despite unconvincing results on the continental scene, Ukraine stood out before entering the running by unveiling a daring jersey on which we see a map of Ukraine including Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014. Despite the annoyance of the Russian leaders, the Ukrainian football federation has found a compromise with UEFA, to maintain a political slogan on its shirt, “Glory to the heroes”. It was also controversial when Maria Zakharova, director of information and the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, denounced “The glorification of the accomplices of the Nazis” according to comments reported by the International mail. In fact, this slogan was used long before by the Ukrainian separatists before being taken up during the revolution of 2014. “This slogan is older than what the Russian authorities say”, explains Lukas Aubin, author of the book The Sportokratura under Vladimir Putin. “The 2014 revolution made this patriotic slogan appear in a very important way, it has a broad meaning today. There is a problem of the duty to remember in Ukraine and the Russians are using it to discredit Ukrainian nationalism. ”
Slovakia and its three blue peaks
The first Slovak selection was created in 1939, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia by the Third Reich. At this time, the football team’s jersey is blue. Due to the reunification of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic after World War II, it was not until 1993 and the partition of the country to find a Slovak selection.
If during the first year, Slovakia finds its blue jersey, thereafter an alternation settles between the white and the blue of the national flag with a point of red.
In addition to the logo of the Federation, Slovakia wears the national shield which is composed of a patriarchal silver cross planted on three blue summits which represent the mountain ranges of the Great Fatra, the High Tatras and the Matra as for the Hungary.
Spain, the red fury
The Spanish selection, nicknamed the “Roja” (red), has seen its jersey undergo some changes since its first official match in 1920 against Denmark. If the color red has imposed itself, it has not always been the case. From 1921 to 1947, Spain alternated between white, red and blue as the main color of its jersey.
From now on, on the Spanish jersey, in addition to the equipment manufacturer, we can see a star, that of the title of world champion in 2010 above the Spanish coat of arms with in particular the Spanish royal crown and the coats of arms of the historical kingdoms of the dynasty. in power.
Portugal and its five blue shields
Portugal have always used the colors of their national flag using red jerseys and tips of green since their first official match in 1921. Away, the “Seleção” use the same colors as at home or those of the kingdom de Portugal, that is, white and blue.
On the jersey, there is also a badge recalling part of the history of the country. It takes the form of a cross, similar to the cross pattée of the Templars, the warrior and religious order that supported the Portuguese rulers for several centuries. Within it, we can distinguish five blue shields which represent the victory of Afonso Henriques, first king of Portugal, in 1139 over the five Moorish kings at the battle of Ourique. They each contain five white dots which represent the five wounds of Christ arranged in a cross.
This article was produced as part of a partnership with the CFPJ for the application journal for promotion 56.
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