My collection of football shirts

Friday, 5 July 2013

This is the home shirt for Sporting Lisbon from last season. I know that Ricky Van Wolfswinkel has now transferred to Norwich but whilst he was at Sporting he did quite well which made me like him and the shirt was fairly cheap so I thought why not buy it.

Greece Away 2012

First international: Greece 1-4 Italy (1929)

Biggest win: Greece 8-0 Syria (1949)

Biggest loss: Hungary 11-1 Greece (1938)

Most capped: Giorgos Karagounis (125 caps)

Top scorer: Nikos Anastopoulos (29 goals)

Best player: Vasilas Torosidis

Everyone will probably remember Greece for their momentous win at the 2004 European Championship. The Greek team was not favoured to do very well and in a group of Russia, Portugal and Spain they were not expected to even get out of the group stage. But with a surprise win against Portugal, a draw against Spain and a loss to Russia they managed to qualify for the knockout stages. Greece then beat France 1-0 in the quarter finals and then beat the Czechs 1-0 in extra time thanks to a goal from Trainos Dellas. This then led to another game against Portugal but instead this time it was the final. Greece then managed to score a goal in the 57th minute and defended solidly for the rest of the match creating one of the biggest upsets in football ever.

Nowadays Greece are usually ranked in the top 20 in the world but it will be hard to see them ever repeat their achievement from 2004.

Monday, 1 July 2013

Jordan Away 2012

First international: Syria 3-1 Jordan (1953)

Biggest win: Jordan 9-0 Nepal (2011)

Biggest loss: Japan 6-0 Jordan (2012)

Star player: Amer Deeb

Jordan are not known around the world as a country that are good at football but surprisingly to some people they have a chance of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. They came 3rd in their qualifying group behind Japan and Australia which means they will face a play off game against Uzbekistan. Although even if they beat Uzbekistan in this play off game they will still have to play the 5th place team in a play off from the South American qualifying and with teams like Uruguay, Venezuela and Chile all hovering around that place it would be hard to see how a team like Jordan could overcome a side like those.

Friday, 17 May 2013

Vanuatu Away 2013

Flag of Vanuatu

First international: New Zealand 9-0 Vanuatu (1951)

Biggest win: Vanuatu 18-0 Kiribati (2003)

Biggest loss: New Zeland 9-0 Vanuatu (1951)

Vanuatu's biggest achievement is a semi final in the OFC cup, apart from that they have not done much at all.

Botswana Away 2013

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.

Botswana Home 2013