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Checkers anyone?

March 24th, 2006 | By: Soze | 11 Comments »

Rarely have I seen a soccer kit rating list that Croatia has not been stuffed into the top five worst. See here (Muchas Gracias Senhor Bob)

The shirts have been called everything from ‘the Italian tablecloths’ to ‘the colour challenged checker board’ and even ‘runway flags’. But rarely, also, have I seen a uniform evoke such national pride and instant recognition as our famed red and white ‘tablecloths’. I think the Croatia kits are the most recognizable, only trailing after the institution of the Canarinho of Brazil.

Our kits are fashioned after the pattern and colour of our National Coat of Arms. As a relatively young country (since 1991), one can understand why we would want to display our national pride. The legend states that an imprisoned Croatian King defeated a Venetian Prince in a game of Chess to maintain his, and Croatia’s freedom, and ever since the chessboard has been incorporated into our Coat of Arms.

You know, there is nothing wrong with turning on your TV and instantly knowing that is Croatia on the pitch. Much better than the blended uniforms of many other countries.

“Hey Joe, who’s playing?”
“I dunno, could be England, or maybe Poland..wait wait, I think it’s Czech Republic.” Get my drift?

So during this WC when you see the distinctive red and white checkers running circles around the competition, don’t think; “oh geez, these kits are awful”, but rather remember why we all love this competition in the first place. It is for the love and pride of our country, and the Croats have those priorities in the bag.

By the way…have you guys seen our away kits…sweeeeeeeet!

Tags: Croatia, jersey, kits

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Comments

By Euler | March 25th, 2006 at 5:05 am

The away kit is really cool. The tablecloth really works when recognizing what team is playing. And also distract the other side, since they can get hungry and start imagining big mammas serving Spaguetti Bolognese.

Our yellow ones have competition: Australia, Ecuador, Ukraine and Sweden use yellow too.

By Soze | March 25th, 2006 at 1:10 pm

Lol Euler, I never thought of it like that…hungry oponents. Maybe that’s why we always beat the Italians. Hey, that’s probably the second reason Croatia chooses to keep the ‘tablecloth’.

Other contres may have a yelow jersey, but the Brazilian kit as a whole is very recognizable.

By Pedro P | March 26th, 2006 at 10:31 pm

Without any disrespect meant to the other teams, everybody associates “yellow” + “World Cup” to who…?

I’ve always found the Croatia kit to be one of the coolest and more charismatic kits.

And by the way, Soze, knowing so much about portuguese football, I guess you’re a fan of Boavista, right…?

By Luis Paulo | March 26th, 2006 at 10:52 pm

When I first saw the croatian kit in 98 i thought it was sweet. Then I got bored with it. Now, the away uniform is one of the prettiest i’ve seen.

By red | March 27th, 2006 at 9:34 am

our kits are dope since day one . we bangin’!
vatreni!!!
r.

Posted from Poland

By Soze | March 27th, 2006 at 2:16 pm

Yeah, I’m really happy we decided to do something a little different with our away kits but still keeping the checkers in the design. It’s gonna look great on the pitch when we play the final against the home side of Brazil.

Pedro..you are talking about the Boavista that took the Portuguese championship other than the big 3 for the first time in like 50 years or something? I do not know much about them, only that they are the ‘other’ Porto team. It would have been nice if they won it two years in a row so they are not labeled as lucky. Me personally, I would have liked to see Farense take the whole thing one year. We used to stay in Faro and I went to a few games. They were always huge underdogs.

By Pedro P | March 27th, 2006 at 2:39 pm

Farense… Man, you know your way around Portugal. Not a lot of people, even in Portugal, remember the old SC Farense with its peculiar spanish coach, who did miracles in spite of a chronicall low budget. Years ago…

This Boavista FC is exactly the same you mean. But they weren’t lucky that year, no sr… They also had a coach Mourinho – that is, MILITARY – style. They didn´t have any brilliant players but they knew how to fight and swet and run. I believe this is when Ricardo eventually moved to Sporting.

But I’m not gonna tell you why I mentioned them… Look it up. I’m not gonna spoil the surprise. Once you find them, you’ll know immeditelly why

By Soze | March 27th, 2006 at 3:03 pm

Lol Pedro…as soon as the page loaded I knew what you were talking about. Our monochromatic checker brothers. This is my new favourite team in Portugal!!

The Farense had cronical low budget and no budget. I remember the stories when they built a supermarket integrated into the stadium that the players are gonna start getting paid in food….funny.

By Pedro P | March 27th, 2006 at 3:14 pm

I knew you’d like them. I don’t know of any other teams who wear the same pattern.

http://www.boavistafc.pt/

By the way, I enjoyed very much the piece of historical background behind it… I like history very much, although I must admit I know very little about the countries not directly related to the portuguese history.

I didn’t know that about Farense… Typical… But funny…

By A Melo | March 29th, 2006 at 2:15 pm

I think the Croatian home kit is unnusual. The “tablecloth” is a national signature.

Away kit very nice!

Posted from Brazil

By Milan | March 31st, 2006 at 2:45 am

In 98 the Croatian kit was voted the best kit by fans all around the world. The away kit i think is very cool but i wish nike had done something more with the home kit. But it still rocks

Posted from Australia