World Cup of Kits (Group C)

 Our first Group of Death! A couple nations come out SWINGING, with the two who fail to advance aren't even bad kits. I'm actually really excited to watch some of these match ups in real life for the kit aesthetics.

Group C: Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia

Argentina:

Starting this group off with an absolute classic of a home kit, Adidas simply couldn’t mess it up and they didn’t (looking at you Puma). It’s just such a historic look with the baby blue and white stripes with Messi playing what is possibly his last World Cup. It’s enough to make a football romantic cry. Just you wait for Peter Drury to evoke said tears if we see these boys in the final.

Their dark blue kit is interesting to say the least and brings the overall Argentine performance down just so slightly. I’m not saying it’s a bad jersey, because it isn’t. I actually don’t hate the pixel flames and I think the colors work pretty well, It’s just not my favorite in the competition. I think they tried something here and I give them credit for that, but it's hard to compete with your own white kit if you’re Argentina.

As we’ll continue to see, this is one of the strongest groups kit-wise of the entire competition and I can’t wait for some of these matchups! Argentina vs. any of the other three teams will be ridiculously aesthetically pleasing. That being said, they are just too dominant here. Their group performance is a tie against a really tough Mexico team, and two wins against a couple teams that are no slouches themselves. This kicks off the tournament for my favorite to win in real life and a true contender in the kit competition as well.

Result: W against Saudi Arabia, Tie against Mexico, W against Poland. Advance with 7 points and in 1st place of the group!

Mexico:

This is just another world class kit to begin Group C. The white shirt may very well be the best kit in the entire competition. I know I am very inconsistent when it comes to whether I like simplicity or intricacy but COME ON! That Aztec design with that logo is enough to make an American to root for them to get out of the group (almost). Adidas is just two legs above Nike and a million above Puma throughout this entire competition and really flexes its muscles with the Mexico home kit.

The green away jersey much like Argentina’s away jersey has its own merit, but hails in comparison to the class of their own home adaptation. The diagonal pattern with the subtle lines is a great look and does not hinder Mexico in getting by a couple of Nike’s better showings, but isn’t quite enough to take out Argentina for that coveted top spot.

Overall it’s a great showing for Mexico with a tie against the South American giants and a couple wins against respectable sides, but they miss out on the top spot failing to get an advantage in goal differential over the Argentines.

Result: Tie against Argentina, W against Poland, W against Saudi Arabia. Advance to the knockout stage in 2nd place with 7 points!

Poland:

Probably Nike’s best adaptation to this point in the tournament. The kit is clean, the numbers and font compliment the jersey nicely. The wing pattern on the white kit works really well with the logo and adds to what is otherwise a very simple jersey. I really have nothing very negative to say about these, and if they weren’t in this group of death, they would have a really good chance of advancing.

The problem for Poland’s kit in this tournament is that they are up against the absolute stunner that is Mexico’s white kit, the historic masterpiece of the light blue and white stripes from Argentina, and even the creativity of Saudi Arabia’s kits. The thing that would have saved Poland in most other groups is unfortunately it’s undoing here. That thing is simplicity. 

Overall, through no fault of their own, Poland put up a massive stinker all three games and crash out in the group stage.

Results: L to Mexico, L against Saudi Arabia, L against Argentina. 0 Points do not advance in 4th place.

Saudi Arabia:

Another solid performance from Nike after an unfortunate start. These Saudi Arabia kits are really solid for opposite reasons from Poland. They are super creative and much different than anything that we’ve seen up to this point. I really like the palm leaves on the white kit. I think they work really well as a base without being too much.I also really like the eagle design on the black and green kit. My only complaint would be that it looks like it would typically be worn as a keeper’s shirt, but I don't think that’s a super fair criticism as there’s no specific reason for me to feel that way.

Overall much like Poland they would have been a clear advance if they were in one of the two former groups, but the creativity and color scheme can’t quite see them past Argentina or Mexico’s brilliance. They win a consolation game against Poland in game 2.

Result: L against Argentina, W against Poland, L against Mexico. 3 points, 3rd in the group, do not advance

Overall Results: