Team Colors for International Soccer

[JRG]

Maybe someone can shed some light on the subject. Ive always been curious about some teams choice of color even though that color isnt associated with the countries flag usually.

Best example I can think of is probably Italy. Theyre known as the Azzuri and dressed in all blue. Yet when I think Italy blue is the last color that comes to mind. You usually thinkk the red white and green.

Netherlands and there orange uniforms. Although this can be a mistake on my part. I always assumed the top color on the flag was red but maybe its an onscreen thing and its actually orange. So on this one I could be wrong if the top color on the flag is orange.

Watching Japan now as well theyre going with the blue as well with the smallest square of red on the back and front of jersey even though red is what I would associate with Japan. Would this jersey color just be to seperate themselves more from a China look which uses red? Gives more distinction?

Anyone have any other examples or answers as to why some of these things are.

[Sleepy]

As far as I know, the countries can just pick any color or style they like. There are a bunch of stories and and superstitious believes about the color of the jerseys ("No team in red has won anything since 1966"), which makes the presentation of the new kit for the next big tournament always interesting. Klinsmann used red away jerseys in 2006 "to symbolize the heart and fire of the team and to show aggressiveness" or something stupid like that...

Anyway, most teams got "their" main colors and play around with their alternate jerseys. Italy has used black, Germany green (buttugly, worst I've ever seen), ...


(and everything in the Netherlands is orange. It's their color. Dates back to the Prince of Orange and their fight vs. Spain)

[5DOM]

Not international soccer, but



They just choose whatever colours they want with a little bit of history attached

[JRG]

As far as I know, the countries can just pick any color or style they like. There are a bunch of stories and and superstitious believes about the color of the jerseys ("No team in red has won anything since 1966"), which makes the presentation of the new kit for the next big tournament always interesting. Klinsmann used red away jerseys in 2006 "to symbolize the heart and fire of the team and to show aggressiveness" or something stupid like that...

Anyway, most teams got "their" main colors and play around with their alternate jerseys. Italy has used black, Germany green (buttugly, worst I've ever seen), ...


(and everything in the Netherlands is orange. It's their color. Dates back to the Prince of Orange and their fight vs. Spain)

Yah I assumed they could pick any color they want. I just figure they would go with the color you usually associate the country with. I think I jsut find Italy the most confusing cause theyve always been blue it seems yet in no way to I associate blue with Italy.

Just find it odd is all. I would think a country would pick a color that really represents them on the international stage and not jsut a color they can make up some minor back story about.

[Rasho Brezec]

It's to create some distinction between the countries. Slovenia is using green jerseys because supposedly we're one of the greenest countries in the world. Example why they're doing it:

Russia


Slovakia


Slovenia

[pass first]

I'm not really sure why Italy has blue but it is the national sporting colour just like orange in the Netherlands. I.e in every single sport they play in those colours.

Orange is the colour of our Royal family. It has become the national colour in general. It's not in the flag but our flag is very basic. We acknowledge it as our own but I mean, those colours return in a lot of flags. The orange gives us a real unique identity, and Dutch like standing out a little bit, so it suits us that way.

Our flag is sometimes dressed up if you will by an orange pennant. Like on holidays or something.

[kromoszoma]

I once heard that Italy wears blue because that used to be the colour of the royal family. Don't know if it's right though.

[Point forward]

New Zealand has a totally white kit ("All White"), inspired by the famous All Blacks rugby team. Their flag is blue and red though.

Croatia has a very funny (and cool) looking jersey, a red and white chess field. The coat of arms in the Croatian flag is designed like this.

Australia is also kinda odd. Green and yellow, but their flag is also red and blue.

Japan is all blue, but their flag is white and red...?

[El Turco]

Turkey had turquoise jerseys for a while, didn't like it first but then warmed up to the idea.

[colors]

Italy wears blue because it was the color of the House of Savoy which unified Italy in 1861.

The Netherlands wear orange because it was one of the colors of the coat of arms of William of Orange, leader of the Dutch revolt against Spain in the 16th century. The original Dutch flag had orange instead of red on top.

Germany plays in white and black because they were the colors of the 19th century flag of Prussia.

Japan used to play in red and white, and recently changed to blue, apparently to disinguish themselves from the South Korean and Chinese teams.

Spain wearing blue shorts is apparently a reminder of the way Franco partisans were called (los azules, the blues).

Slovenia wears green and white because they are the colors of the capital Ljubljana. This 1994 decision has been so much disputed within the country that it has recently been decided Slovenia will play in white, blue and red starting in 2012.

Uruguay's light blue jerseys and black shorts come from the away uniform of the old River Plate FC Uruguayan club (not the same club as the Argentinian River).

Australia playing in green and yellow comes from the national cricket team using those colors since 1899, and other sports national teams following. In 1984 they were declared the national colors of the nation.

[USA]

I came across this guys take on Italy.

There are two conflicting answers on the topic -

Theory 1: It is said that the jersey was chosen to be blue as a honor to the royal Savoia family of Italy. During the first two games that the officialy national team played, the players wore white shirts with their club team shorts, after which blue was chosen.

Theory 2 : For the first games that the Italian national team played, they used white jerseys, however, during one of the original matches that the national team played it began to snow, and they were unable to continue wearing white. The only other available jersey's were Blue. After changing jersey's to the Blue jerseys to finish the game (and winning that game) they wore Blue ever since.

[Dutch]

Yup Orange dates way back.
Actually the name comes from a french village "Orange".

[Foye]

New Zealand has a totally white kit ("All White"), inspired by the famous All Blacks rugby team. Their flag is blue and red though.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y[/youtube]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[groentesoep]

The lastname of the Dutch Royal family is also Van Oranje (Orange).

Orange is just the national color of Holland. During holidays that are related to the royal family (for instance Queens Day) they also add an orange pennant to the flag.

Like so:



Originally the flag also was orange-white-blue:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands

[HDMAVS760CA]

I'm glad somebody mentioned this. I did get some of my questions asked on why some teams with this country flag wear other colors. But why did England change their flag? Liked their old blue, white & red but now its white & red

[TMU]

I'm glad somebody mentioned this. I did get some of my questions asked on why some teams with this country flag wear other colors. But why did England change their flag? Liked their old blue, white & red but now its white & red

The blue, white, and red flag is the UK flag. The white and red flag is the England flag.