Botswana Away 2012

                                      
                                                          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 2012

                                   

                                      
                                                         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.

Estonia Home 2003

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

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)

Malawi Home 2012

 

Flag of Malawi

First international: Malawi 0-12 Ghana (1962)

Biggest win: Malawi 8-1 Djibouti (1928)

Biggest loss: Malawi 0-12 Ghana (1962)

Star player: Joseph Kamwendo (MTL Wanderers)

Malawi have made it into the African Cup of Nations twice in their career. In 1987 they came 3rd in the All Africa Games which is their biggest achievement to date.

Australia Home 2010

            
                                       Tim Cahill celebrating a goal

                          
                                                 Flag of Australia

First international: New Zealand 3-1 Australia (1922)

Biggest win: Australia 31-0 Am.Samoa (2001)

Biggest loss: Australia 0-8 South Africa (1955)

Most capped: Mark Schwarzer (99 caps)

Top scorer: Damian Mori (29)

Star player: Tim Cahill (NY Red Bulls)

Australia for a country who enjoy rugby, AFL and cricket are also quite good at football (the one with a round ball unlike Aussie rules). Their highest ever ranking is 14th in the world. They have been to 3 world cups and because of their dominance in the OFC qualifying section they have now been moved into the Asian qualification system which they will still probably qualify easily from. The English premier league has often been entertained by Australian footballers such as Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Brad Jones, Mark Viduka and I expect that trend to carry on in future years.

Brunei Darussalam Home 2012

                  

                            
                                                      Flag of Brunei

First international: Malaysia 0-4 Brunei (1971)

Biggest win: Brunei 4-1 Timor-Leste (2008)

Biggest loss: Brunei 0-1 UAE (2001)

Most capped: N/A

Top scorer: N/A

Brunei was suspended by FIFA over governmental affairs but thankfully they have been lifted recently in 2011 to allow them to play football again.

You can purchase the shirt at this shop
 http://www.footballshirtworld.co.uk/shop/all-shirts/brunei-home-yellow-shirt-l.html

Peru Home 2008

Flag of Peru

First international: Peru 0-4 Uruguay (1927)

Biggest win: Peru 9-1 Ecuador (1938)

Biggest loss: Brazil 7-0 Peru (1997)

Most capped: Roberto Palacios (128 caps)

Top scorer: Teofilo Cubilas (26 goals)

Star player: Juan Vargas (Fiorentina FC)

Peru have made it to 2 world cup quarter finals before and also have 2 Copa America titles to their name as well as a third place finish in the Gold Cup. Peru were recently banned by FIFA for governmental reasons but now they are back and have a good crop of players to.

Sweden Home 2002

Flag of Sweden

First international: Sweden 11-3 Norway (1908)

Biggest win: Sweden 12-0 Latvia (1927)

Biggest loss: Great Britain 12-1 Sweden (1908)

Most capped: Thomas Ravelli (143 caps)

Top scorer: Sven Rydell (49 goals)

Star player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain)

Sweden have appeared in 11 World Cups and got to the final of the 1958 world cup. They are the most successful Scandinavian side and always seem to produce some good strikers every now and then.