Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Botswana Home 2012





                                   Botswana-11-All kasi-home-kit-light blue-light blue-white.jpg

                                      
                                                         Flag of Botswana

First international: Malawi 8-1 Botswana (1968)


Biggest win: Botswana 6-2 Swaziland (2002)

Biggest loss: Malawi 8-1 Botswana (1968)

Most capped: Ndiapo Letsholathebe (53 caps)

Top scorer: Dipsy Selolwane (16 goals)

Star player: Tshepo Motlhabankwe (Heracles Almelo)


The 2012 African Nations Cup was the first time Botswana have ever qualified for it. In 2010 they managed to get up to an all time best of 53rd in the FIFA world rankings but have since dropped down into three figures despite the qualification for the AFCON. I have to say the Botswana shirts are probably my favourites.

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Estonia Home 2003



エストニア03-04NIKE青黒白.jpg

Flag of Estonia

First international: Finland 6-0 Estonia (1920)

Biggest win: Estonia 6-0 Lithuania (1928)

Biggest loss: Finland 10-2 Estonia (1922)

Most capped: Martin Reim (157 caps)

Top scorer: Andres Oper (37 goals)

Star player: Tarmo Kink (Varese FC)


This is the home shirt of the nation of Estonia which is based just by Russia. Estonia have never been a powerhouse in world football but recently did manage to reach the play off stages for European qualification only to be beaten by the Republic of Ireland. Mart Poom is probably their most famous players and he is among the small list of goalkeepers that have scored!


Monday, 28 May 2012

England Away 2012



Flag of England

First international: Scotland 0-0 England (1872)

Biggest win: Ireland 0-13 England (1882)

Biggest loss: Hungary 7-1 England (1954)

Most capped: Peter Shilton (125 caps)

Top scorer: Bobby Charlton (49 goals)

Star player: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC)



This is my favourite English shirt. It is different to have a shirt that isn't red or blue for England. I orginally ordered a Soccer Aid Rest of the World shirt but when it arrived from JJB it was just a plain Umbro shirt. I emailed them and they say it should take 1 day to get a reply but 5 days later I now get a reply saying they will refund me for the shirt. Unknown to them I had already gone into the shop and got a refund and bought this shirt with the refunded money. So now they have given me two refunds which basically means I got this shirt for free. Now to wear this when Carroll heads in the winner to gift England the European trophy.

Saturday, 26 May 2012

Timor-Leste / East-Timor Home 2012





Flag of Timor-Leste


First international: Sri Lanka 3-2 Timor-Leste (2003)

Biggest win: N/A

Biggest loss: Thailand 8-0 Timor-Leste (2004)


East-Timor or Timor-Leste (however you want to call them) are ranked 204th in the world and not a very good footballing side. The shirt is just your bog standard Nike template but it is good to own a shirt from a low ranked team. Their future plan is to give citizenship to Timor-Lesteans based overseas to play for the national side in the hope of an improvement for the future.

Iceland Home 2006


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Flag of Iceland


First international: Iceland 3-0 Denmark (1946)

Biggest win: Iceland 5-0 Malta (2000)

Biggest loss: Denmark 14-2 Iceland (1967)

Most capped: Runar Kristinsson (104 caps)

Top scorer: Eidur Gudjohnsen (24 goals)

Star player: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Tottenham FC)


Iceland are actually ranked 131st in the world which was a surprise to me as they have a few decent players in Gylfi Sigurdsson, Aron Gunnarsson, Eggert Jonsonn, Gretr Steinsson, Heidr Helguson an have had past legends like Chelsea's own Eidur Gudjohnsen and Ipswich legend Herman Hreiderson. They recently have qualified for a lot of under 21 tournaments and under 19 under 17 etc tournaments so I expect them to rise up the rankings soon enough. As long as an ash cloud doesn't form because of another volcanic eruption meaning they can't get to their games. A really nice shirt though.

Friday, 25 May 2012

Lesotho Home 2012


Lesotho shirt on release day

Flag of Lesotho


First international: Malawi 1-2 Lesotho (1970)

Biggest win: Lesotho 5-0 Swaziland (2006)

Biggest loss: Ghana 7-0 Lesotho (2012

Star player: Thapelo Tale (Free Agent)


This is the national team shirt of Lesotho. Lesotho are a country based roughly in the middle of South Africa. The African nation are not one of the better teams in the world being ranked 163rd in the world but they have unearthed a young talent within the country who has recently joined Atletico Madrid called Montoeli Sonopo so keep a lookout for him. This shirt is fantastic though and I love the design. The kit makers are a local brand from Lesotho called Basutoland Ink and I was lucky enough to get hold of this shirt thanks to a man named Bokang from the company. If you look closely you can also see a crocodile!

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Tibet Home 2012


Tibet shirt made by the brand Copa. This shirt is an XL but rather tight for someone who usually fits a large. I really like the shirt though and is one of my favoured designs. Tibet is the home of the Dalai Lama. A bit of a useless fact but China banned Football Manager in their country as it recognised Tibet as an independent country.



Flag of Tibet

First international: Greenland 4-1 Tibet (2001)


Biggest win: Tibet 6-0 Delhi XI (2007)

Biggest loss: Padania 14-2 Tibet (2008)