The World Cup Group Stage of Kits (Part 1, Group A)

So it's still World Cup's Eve here in Honolulu and I figured what better way to kick off than to put who I believe should advance from each group. And what better way to decide than purely and solely based on which teams have the best kits. I split the posts into groups so that it wouldn't be too much to scroll through so this is just Group A.

I would also like to preface this by saying in my everyday life, I actually PREFER NIKE over Adidas, but I think the latter outclassed the former in almost every kit design this year. I am also an Inter Milan FAN and really like the Blue and Black shirts this year, but boy did NIKE try to ruin them for me during this process. And finally, I had no qualms with Puma prior to this competition, I just think they bottled some kits with great potential and I may never forgive them.

Anyway, here's group A:

 Group A: Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador, Qatar

Netherlands:

Group A's favorite in real life epitomizes pretty much what we see from Nike throughout this entire tournament which is the definition of MID. I don’t absolutely hate these kits, but come on. What a waste of the absolute class color scheme that the Dutch have! What is that velvet ass design on the Orange kits?? When you think of Orange in the World Cup you think of Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder in some truly classic kits and these are simply not up to snuff. 

The blue ones are fine, just fine. Nike is squeezing the life out of that Inter style collar as we see later on. Overall, Netherlands gets bailed out by Senegal and unlucky against a Qatar team with some home cooking and a solid red kit.

Result: W against Senegal, L to Ecuador, Tie against Qatar.

4 Points, fails to advance in 3rd overall

Qatar:

Qatar gets the automatic bid as the home team of this World Cup and take advantage of a very weak group Kit-wise. Their red kit is solid. I have to give credit where it's due. It’s hard to make dark red and white look bad and Nike doesn’t completely disappoint here. I like the sleeve triangular design representing their flag and they have a nice subtle background.

The white kit is a different story. I think they just look dirty and not in a good way. I don’t mind the pattern and I think it could have been done well but the color just seems like they were playing in the Oakland Coliseum and rolled around in the dirt for 90 minutes.

Overall they sneak through by the skin of their teeth and because of the skill of their red jerseys. The home nation’s dreams are alive!

Results: L against Ecuador, W against Senegal, Tie against Netherlands. 4 points, advance in 2nd!

Ecuador:

I won’t lie there’s nothing incredibly special about these uniforms, but in this group, that seems to be a great thing. There are no eye sores. The blue kit has an intricate design which actually works quite well. I like the subtle use of red in all three versions.

It's the simplicity and cleanliness of these kits that put them a leg up on their competitors. A unique color scheme done right adds do their dominance.

Overall, really well done Marathon! Marathon of all companies has put out the only truly good kit selection in group A, giving Ecuador a clean sweep in the group stage and a developing Cinderella in this competition waiting to happen.

Result: W against Qatar, W against Netherlands, W against Senegal. 9 points, advance in 1st Place!!!

Senegal:

*Anakin voice* “I HATE THEM!” These jerseys are actually just not good and we will see this again and again and again from Puma. The white ones don’t look horrible at a glance but when you see them in action, the chest stripe is just awkward and bulky and I don’t like where it ends on the sleeves.

And the other kit is just a waste of the colorful scheme that is Senegal’s green. Don’t you put it on that beautiful flag and try to distract me from that abysmal boxy chest piece. “I see through the lies of Puma!” Hopefully Mane pulls some dark magic and is able to play but even if he can it will be in some seriously disappointing kits.

Senegal is bounced in depressing fashion without a single win.

Result: L against Netherlands, L against Qatar, L against Ecuador. Miss the knockouts with 0 points in 3rd place.

Overall Standings