Australia
and Nike unveiled the Socceroos' away kit for 2014, augmented with the best in
performance innovation as well as design details that reflect the national
team's proud football history.
“We
are now used to seeing Australia at the highest levels of international
competition as this will be their third consecutive appearance on football's
greatest stage, and so we wanted to create an inspirational kit that looks back
and pays homage to the first time they qualified for the world tournament. This
new kit reflects the fighting spirit and pioneering can-do attitude of the 1974
national team,” said Martin Lotti, Nike Football Global Creative Director.
The
new dark obsidian blue away jersey was inspired by the design worn by Australia
when they qualified for their first-ever finals in West Germany 40 years ago.
The
jersey boasts a stylish and modern yellow johnny collar, another reference to
the iconic 1974 national team.
The
design team placed the Australian coat of arms on the chest of the jersey
within a new shield, replicating the shape of the crest worn on the jerseys at
the 1974 tournament, and fulfills the players’ stated desire to “feel the
history of our country.”
Inside
the back of the neck, a woven pennant tab features the Football Federation
Australia (FFA) logo surrounded by the famous and inspiring quote, “We
Socceroos can do the impossible,” from Peter Wilson, the captain of the 1974
Australian national team squad.
Talented
midfielder, Tom Rogic said of the kit:
“The
team’s comfort and performance on pitch was clearly front of mind when
designing the kit. The reference to the 1974 squad in the kit design is a
reminder of the history and heritage of the Socceroos, which will give us added
motivation in Brasil.”
The
new away socks and shorts are also in obsidian blue. Simple and iconic, the
shorts have a slimmer fit that is more tailored to the body with a cut
specifically designed to aid movement and comfort. The center back of the
shorts features Nike’s signature laser vents to aid in cooling and allow for
moisture management.
FFA
Chief Executive Officer David Gallop applauded the design and its recognition
of the past deeds of the 1974 Socceroo heroes.
“The
away design complements our home strip and allows the Socceroos to take on the
world’s best in Brasil in a strip that shows respect to the past but also
reflects the future in what is an exciting time for the Socceroos,” Gallop
said.
ULTIMATE
IN COOLING AND COMFORT
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
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.”
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PERFECT
FIT
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.
NIKE
PRO BASELAYER
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.
