To coincide with my “Debut” Podcast appearence on the latest Kitted Out Podcast talking the Nike Vapor Template and Kits worn at Euro 2016, I thought I would pull together a Kit Log from that Tournament, so look back at the kits worn and some of the stats behind the kits.
Euro 2016, was hosted by France and change of format saw it become the largest European Championships to date, with the tournament being expanded to 24 teams from the 16 team that had been in place for the previous 5 tournaments dating back to Euro 96.
In terms of kits, the “Big Three” manufacturers, Nike, Adidas and Puma supplied 20 of the 24 teams qualifying for European Championships!
Kits Stats:
- 24 Teams
- 55 Different Kits Worn
- 7 Kit Manufacters (Nike, Adidas, Puma, Joma, Macron, Umbro, Errea)
- Adidas – 9 Countries
- Nike – 6 Countries
- Puma – 5 Countries
- 10 Countries wore three different kit combinations
- Only 3 Countries wore the same kit in all their games
Looking at bit more detail into the Countries kit choices, taking each Group at a time and their progress through the Tournament.
Group A
Hosts and eventual finalists France, one of the six countries to wear the Nike Vapor Template only change from their first choice “Home” Kit once, this was kit that we discussed at length on Kitted Out Podcast where they could not wear their initial “Away” kit which broke the UEFA Equipment laws by having two different colour sleeves. The Kit worn in the tournament, had almost grey looking sleeves instead of the red / blue in the original design.
Albania, who in their first ever tournament appearence also created a first by wearing Home, Away and 3rd choice kits in their three group games, something that I do not believe we have seen in an International Tournament before with Countries normally having just two kit options.
Group B
England, another team with Nike Vapor Template and one that was seen by many to be a controversial choice. I am probably in the minority of England fans that liked it, it was something different and I always like to see experimentation in Kit design and this was possibly Nike’s biggest risk in the International market. The Home and Away kits were both used through the tournament but unfortunately this kit will likely always be remembered for exit at the hands of Iceland.
Wales, who reached the Semi Finals had one of the standard Adidas Templates for their home kit, however their away kit was something different with the use of the fluorescent trim really popping from the two toned grey hoops.
Group C
Ever efficient Germany wore their Home kit in all of their six appearances, with the only variation being the use of white socks in their Quarter Final match against Italy.
Ukraine, one of the three teams (All wearing Yellow) to wear the same kit throughout the Tournament.
Poland, wearing probably the least adventurous Nike Vapor Template, no risks in colour choice, no alternative sock choice just the standard colour choices in place and an away kit that many England fans would have happily swapped for one used by the Three Lions!
Group D
Group D is all about Turkey for me, another Nike Vapor Template and one of the more interesting designs, with a mesh like appearance in the shirt blending to black shorts / socks. They wear also one of the teams to wear three different kit combinations in their three group games, mashing up home shorts and socks with their away kit, for me the best use of Vapor Template seen on show!
An honourable mention to Spain and their away kit which contains an interesting pattern on chest and shoulder, which is to reflect the heat map of their winning goal at Euro 2012 scored by Fernando Torres.
Group E
It was all about Belgium’s away kit for me in Group E, my favourite kit of the tournament and one that paid homage to the Belgian cycling team with the Belgian Flag being used as a chest band across the cyan shirt! It was used three times in their six games with both black and cyan shorts, both looks working in my eyes!
Italy (as Belgium) used three different kits in their six games, with two home kit combinations used, their stylish away kit only used on their opening game.
Group F
Tournament winners Portugal, the final team to wear the Nike Vapor Template kit, also wore three different kits in their six game with their home kit being one of the best fits in colour combination of the template.
Iceland’s kit produced by Errea deserve a call out, not only a tournament to remember for their progress to the Quarter Finals but a simple, yet unique kit with the use of a single stripe made their kits stand out from some of the generic templates used by several nations.
Austria wore three different kit combinations in their only three appearances at Euro 2016.
My favourtie 5 Kits worn
Belgium Away (with black and cyan shorts)
Turkey Home
Italy Away
Turkey Away with Black shorts
Iceland Away
Euro 2016 Fixtures
An overview of the kits worn by tournament fixtures.
10th June 2016 to 18th June 2016 (Group games)
19th June 2016 to 3rd July 2016 (Final Group Games to Quarter Finals)
6th July 2016 to 10th July 2016 (Semi Finals and Final)
Well there we have, let me know your favourite kits worn through out Euro 2016 and of course make sure you check out the latest Podcast from Kitted Out discuss these kits and The Nike Vapour Template.
A final thank you to Ollie from Kitted Out for intiviting me on to his Podcast and giving me an opportunity to talk about football kits, please use the link above to check out Kitted Out back catalogue, some wonderful football kit conversations to listen too.
Football Kit Geek - @Kit_Geek 