Italy’s national football team, the Azzurri, are always known for sporting a blue and white kit. Just in time for Euro 2020 qualifier, the team has gone a different route – emerald green.
The year is 1954, and for the first and only time, the Italians can be seen coming out in a deep emerald green jersey. It was this time also that the Azzurri snatched a 2-0 win against Argentina at the Stadio Olimpico. In celebration of this rarely-seen colour, the heritage of Italy, and the rise of young blood in the sport, the team has linked with Puma for a celebratory kit.
The kit is both a celebration of past and present. The subtle mosaic pattern on the kit you can see upon closer inspection is in reference to the ‘Renaissance’ period in Italy, a time in history where fabrics, architecture and many other arts began to draw inspiration from the Classical period again. The mosaic pattern was prevalent in the Renaissance and has become associated with Italian history.
A New Wave Rises
Introducing @azzurri new kit, straight from the Renaissance.
Available now. pic.twitter.com/mBKnvFSMAO— PUMA Football (@pumafootball) 7 de outubro de 2019
The kit also marks the start of a new era for the National Team, released at a point where more younger players than ever are making up the Azzurri squad. The press release notes that are currently 12 players under the age of 25 training at Italy’s “university of football” – Coverciano.
Green also stands as the colour that National Youth Teams wear in Italy, with all the youth aspiring to make the move to the more ususal and senior blue kits. The shift to green for senior kits is in honour of these younger players.
The kit also has details such as Puma branding in gold and embossed, a navy collar, and an embossed Azzurri emblem in gold.
The new kit will make its debut on October 12 for Italy vs. Greece at the same Stadio Olimpico which saw the previous green shirt worn 65 years ago.
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