England’s old guard join Nike revolt
Whatever next? Three Lions to three cats, asks David Seaman
THE row over the multi-coloured St George’s Cross on England’s new football kit intensified today — with former players calling for a rethink.
Nike revealed it had replaced the traditional red cross on the back of the collar with purple and blue horizontal stripes in what it called a “playful update” to the shirt ahead of Euro 2024. England’s men’s team are set to wear the new kit for the first time tomorrow night in the friendly at Wembley against Brazil.
Some fans have also criticised the price of the shirt, which costs up to £125. However, the BBC reported that there are no plans to change or recall it. England’s most capped men’s player Peter Shilton said today: “This is wrong on every level. I’m totally against it. Including the price that Nike are going to charge. If you’re going to put the St George’s Cross on a kit, which obviously Nike have done, then just put it on with the traditional colours. Like the Three Lions, it’s traditional.”
David Seaman, another former England goalkeeper, added: “It doesn’t need fixing. What’s next, are they going to change the Three Lions to three cats?
Leave it alone. It’s the St George’s flag.” The US firm said the colours were inspired by the training kit worn by England’s 1966 World Cup winners, but shadow attorney-general Emily Thornberry described the new design as “a bit weird”. She told BBC Breakfast: “Imagine putting a bit of purple on the Irish tricolour. Why are we messing around with it? I don’t understand.”
She was speaking after her leader Sir Keir Starmer called on Nike to change the colour back to the traditional red. The Labour leader said he believed the flag was a “unifier” and insisted the sporting brand should “reconsider” the decision to modify it. He also called on Nike to reduce the price.
Conservative MP Ben Bradley said it was “a ridiculous decision”. He added:
“Unbelievable that Nike and the FA think they have the right to change our country’s flag. Some things are untouchable.” A Nike spokesman previously said: “The England 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic. The trim on the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped with purple. The same colours also feature an interpretation of the flag of St George on the back of the collar.”
It is not the first time Nike have found themselves in hot water over an England shirt. Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps said the firm’s decision not to sell her replica shirt ahead of the women’s World Cup was “hurtful”. Nike relented after mounting pressure, with the green long-sleeved shirt then selling out in five minutes.
ENGLAND’S front five of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane will be as good as any at Euro 2024, and Gareth Southgate can also count on an experienced goalkeeper and an embarrassment of riches at right-back.
Even the manager’s concerns at centre-half have eased now that Harry Maguire is back playing for Manchester United, quieting the questions over Southgate’s loyalty to one of his most experienced players.
But three months out from the Euros, Southgate still has major issues to address elsewhere, and he will be searching for solutions in tomorrow’s friendly against Brazil at Wembley and Belgium’s visit to the national stadium on Tuesday. SHORTAGE OF LEFT-BACKS
Luke Shaw has been at St George’s Park for rehab this week but Southgate has acknowledged that he is only likely to be fit for “the dying embers” of the season, leaving England’s first-choice left-back as a major doubt for the Euros.
Ben Chilwell is the only natural left-sided defender in the squad and will surely start against Brazil or Belgium, but the Chelsea player has suffered injury problems of his own this season, and right-footed Kieran Trippier, also sidelined this month, is probably ahead of him in Southgate’s thinking.
Joe Gomez could cover on the left and Levi Colwill has played there for Chelsea, increasing his chances of returning to the squad if Shaw and/or Chilwell are not fit.
Rico Lewis and Fikayo Tomori have