For the first time in their history, the Matildas will wear a unique jersey at this year’s World Cup – one different to the one worn by Australia’s national men’s teams – but the design itself has divided fans.
One of 14 World Cup kits unveiled by Nike overnight in Paris, the Matildas jersey evokes memories of the most infamous Socceroos kit in history – the 1990s spew shirt. But there’s no player revolt over the new design.
The home shirt is predominantly gold, with splashes of green and white that bare comparison with Ken Done’s famous paintings. It also features green shorts, and socks which reflect the design of the shirt.
While the home kit is a brand-new design, the away kit has remained as the all-green affair which was unveiled for both the men’s and women’s teams last year in the lead-up to the men’s World Cup.
(Image: Supplied, Nike)
(Image: Supplied, Nike)
(Image: Supplied, Nike)
Sam Kerr is clearly a big fan of the new shirt, saying it represents the side’s spirit as an “out there and bold” team.
“The kit is unreal, it’s such a different take on what we’ve seen in the past and we couldn’t have hoped for a better looking home jersey,” she said.
“To have a kit designed just for the Matildas to play in, it’s a dream come true, and we are honoured to be pulling on the green and gold.”
Nike’s Cassie Looker said the design team wanted to create a “marriage between urban street culture and the amazing countryside in Australia”.
However, reaction on social media to the new kit has been mixed, some lauding the design, others far from impressed with it.
Matildas kit be lookin like my Taco Bell bag tho ???? pic.twitter.com/6GlLTH7RvZ
— Chris (@Whiskey_TangoF) March 11, 2019
The #matildas wc kit is winning me over. It's more brush art and less spew 2.0. Not sure of the socks but definitely iconic.
— Mr Alesich (@MisterAlesich) March 11, 2019
Here's hoping the only trending of "Matildas socks" takes place here on Twitter & not on football pitches around the world.
Awful. Give yourself an uppercut if you signed off on that…
Thankfully sanity prevails in most parts https://t.co/V2a4ZQoSIh
— Tony Tannous (@TonyTannousTRBA) March 11, 2019
Matildas rule on the pitch and in the fashion stakes ????
— Alan Burley (@AlanBurley3) March 11, 2019
Could the girls uniform be any uglier? #matildas #WorldCup #soccer #football
— ????????????????RP Reynolds???????????? (@ThatAllUGot) March 11, 2019
Only fair that our country’s best representatives get the best kits. Well done to the Matildas ????????
— ghost chips (@RegMau5) March 11, 2019
The Matildas will first wear their new shirts against the world’s No.1 team, the United States, in a friendly in April before the World Cup starts in June.
So, Roarers, what do you think of the new jerseys?
With AAP
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