2010 Word Cup Jerseys Preview

Now that the calendar has turned from 2009 to 2010, it's time to consider the changing styles in world football (meaning soccer) and the brand new jerseys that will be shown off to the globe during June's FIFFA World Cup. Soccer is one sport in which jersey details change from season to season. For example, this year Manchester United adopted a black V design on the front of their kits (shirts), Everton F.C. introduced a large white V shape around the collar which I love and had never seen before, and Fulham added black sleeves with white lines. International football is no different. Teams wear the same traditional national color combos but with changes in design details like stripes and other add-ons that emerge within the four year span between World Cups. Some of these additions are brilliant, while others are too much/complicated and hurt the simplistic aesthetic of good looking soccer jerseys.

Before I proceed to rate the new 2010 national team jerseys team by team, these first posts will focus on the jerseys of the African Nations playing in the World Cup, since 2010 will be the first time the competition will be held on the African Continent.

First up, the host Nation: South Africa. The home yellow jersey is respectably simple and follows the traditional color formula worn by the country's national rugby team, the Springboks. The away jersey is unique in that rather than having a solid green base, native designs and the Protea flower (which is a national symbol) are incorporated/faded into the interesting look. The green jersey resembles the vintage Mexico jersey, which was covered with an Aztec design. I'm a fan of both jerseys and I think the South Africans may surprise some people coming off their impressive showing in the Confederations Cup last summer. Look for Booth, Mokoena, and Everton star Pienaar to shine.