I always like to see a new kit in action before making any decisions about my thoughts on it, the promotional pictures and marketing details are for me only a taster of a team or this case Country’s new wears, its when we see it action that we can see the design in all its glory.

So on Friday 23rd March, England’s Senior Men’s team kicked off in the next range of “Home” / “First” kits ready for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

My first impression from its initial launch was that this a return to a more conservative approach to kit design, the previous kits which for full disclosure I was a fan of and thought was a great effort at something different for England.  However this is more of a classic “England” design, seeing a return to the blue shorts, the first time since 2013/4 kit (the first Nike design had England had).  These short are one of the aspects of this kit which I really like, the detail in the shorts with the “Tonal” England crest and Nike tick, give a nice balance to shorts and tied in with the red numbering really works for me.

The return of red numbering is one of the key elements here that I really like within this kit, probably one the designers wont thank me for but red numbering is one of the elements of an England Kit that I do not think should change. This is the first time this has been seen since the 2012 Umbro kit (the all white version with only Red design elements included) and the first time with the traditional blue shorts since Umbro’s 1999/2001 kit – I had to check and double check that, as it did not seem to be that long ago!

Other aspects of the shirt which work for are the subtle flashes of colour within the shirt, the red collar line around the neck and the Blue within the Crest also seems to the badge “pop” more than other shirt of recent years. The only thing that does not work for me is the placement of the number on the front of the shirt, I feel a more central position would balance the shirt, the number seems too low in its current spot.

Overall, for me this is a good look for England, a return to a more traditional look but with some nice nods to the past, as an England fan let’s hope that this kit is linked to more happier time on the pitch.

What are you thoughts on this kit?