The
new Socceroos kit combines the best in performance innovation with evocative
design details that capture the unique and pioneering spirit of Australia,
paying homage to the 1974 national team.
Current
Socceroos Mark Bresciano, Michael Zullo and coach Ange Postecoglou were joined
by Socceroos legends from each decade from the 1960s onwards, for the official
launch in Walsh Bay, Sydney.
The
jersey's vibrant yellow was inspired by the color worn 40 years ago. When
Australia reached the 1974 finals for the first time in West Germany, it was a
remarkable achievement. Today, the players from that team are still revered as
pioneers and heroes.
The
jersey boasts a modern green Johnny collar, another reference to the iconic
1974 Socceroos kit. Nike’s design team crafted the Australian coat of arms on
the chest of the jersey within a new shield that replicates the shape of the
crest worn on the jerseys at the 1974 tournament, and fulfills the current
Socceroos’ stated desire to “feel the history of our country.”
Inside
the back of the neck is a woven pennant tab featuring Football Federation
Australia’s logo surrounded by the famous quote, “We Socceroos can do the
impossible,” uttered by Peter Wilson, the captain of the 1974 Australian squad.
"In
addition to providing the latest performance and design innovation, our aim is
to celebrate each country's national pride," said Martin Lotti, Creative
Director Nike Football. "We looked at the way Australia qualified in 1974.
These same determined qualities endure today and we wanted to reflect them in a
kit that celebrates Australia's history and inspires the team that will play in
Brasil."
The
kit aids performance by helping to regulate player body temperature over the
course of match. By using a combination of Nike Dri-FIT technology, “burnout”
mesh and laser-cut ventilation holes, designers are able to localize cooling
where players need it most.
Nike
Dri-FIT technology pulls moisture away from the skin to the outside of the
garment where it evaporates more quickly. Laser-cut ventilation holes and
engineered mesh in key areas where heat is generated allow for increased
breathability and airflow across the skin.
“By
managing sweat and keeping the body cooler longer, players feel more
comfortable, sweat less and perform better,” said Lotti.
In
addition to keeping players cool, the kit is made with a new dual-knit
fabrication that incorporates cotton and recycled polyester for the best in
moisture-wicking properties, while adding a softer feel and more flattering
shape.
In
line with Nike’s commitment to superior performance with lower environmental
impact, the shirt, short - and for the first time in an Australian national
team kit, the socks - all feature fabric made from recycled plastic bottles
(100 percent recycled polyester in the shorts, 96 percent recycled polyester in
the shirt and 78 percent in the socks). Each kit is made using an average of 18
recycled plastic bottles. Since 2010, Nike has diverted almost 2 billion
bottles from landfills, enough to cover more than 2,800 full-sized football
pitches.
“Incorporating
environmental sustainability is a key part of the design and development
process for us,” said Lotti. “Our aim is to create a kit that performs for
players and is good to the planet.”
Designers
utilized three-dimensional body scans of elite footballers to collect data on
the form of today’s players and identify an updated fit, improving comfort and
allowing the body to move more naturally within the kit.
While
looking at every element of the modern football kit, Nike designers even paid
special attention to the kit’s socks. Combining athlete insight and research
with new materials and fabrications, the Nike Elite Match Fit sock for 2014
features a sleeker fit specific to football. Strategically cushioned zones
provide comfort and protection at the big toe and ankle bones where the
majority of impact occurs, while arch support locks down the foot to help
prevent slipping. Material was also eliminated to enhance touch and decrease
bulk, and flex grooves were added to the ankle and the top of the foot to
prevent bunching.
The
new Nike Pro baselayer is the lightest ever from Nike and features increased
venting and breathability.
Players
have a variety of Nike Pro baselayer styles to choose from. These are designed
for the varying temperatures and conditions athletes will encounter in Brasil,
which are expected to range from high heat during mid-day matches to much
colder temperatures in the southern locations during evening games.
Nike
has redesigned its baselayer short for 2014 taking insights directly from some
of the best players in the world.
“When
we asked players to talk about the kind of protection they need during a match,
they showed us scars and abrasions on their upper-back hip area from sliding,”
recalled Lotti. “Several players showed us these same injuries so we set out to
add more protection, while balancing the need for lightweight and
breathability.”
The
result is the Nike Pro Combat Ultralight Slider Short. Featuring increased and
adjusted abrasion protection zones to match the athlete’s sliding pattern, the
short is also 20 percent lighter than previous versions and made with 87
percent recycled polyester. Weight was eliminated through the addition of mesh
for increased breathability, which also provides cooling where the athlete
generates heat.
