Who is the best dressed team in Europe? All kits are not created equal. With Euro 2008 kicking off this week let’s take a look at how the tournament would break down according to fashion. Just like the actual tournament, the top two teams in each group progress to the quarter finals. The group stage ends up as follows…
Portugal essentially walks away with Group A, as does Spain with group D. Group B is by far the weakest group with Poland finishing top with co-host nation Austria just behind. Also in Group B, Germany shows by far the largest gap between football and fashion prowess. Their home kit, a traditional black & white affair with red and yellow accent, is only surpassed in hideousness by their away kit, which with red and black vertical stripes and gold accents is quite possibly the worst shirt in the entire competition.
Group C, the so called “group of death” maintains this nefarious title with the transition into the fashion world. Current World Champions Italy narrowly best the orange of Holland, with the best dressed team not to advance to the next round in France finishing third.
Quarter Final Round
Portugal vs Austria
Poland vs Turkey
Italy vs Sweden
Netherlands vs Spain
The the Quarter Final round winners are Portugal, Turkey, Italy, and Netherlands. Turkey makes it surprisingly far with their clashing yet appealing sky blue & red away kits, while Holland’s interesting collars help them knock out the last Adidas clad team remaining, Spain.
Semi Final Round
Italy vs Netherlands
Portugal vs Turkey
The Semi Finals again see Portugal with an easy go of it, while titans Italy and Netherlands square off. The Dutch run comes to an end as the understated class of the Italian kits marginally top the colorful flair of Holland.
Final
Italy vs Portugal
The final of the tournament could not be a closer contest. Both teams sport a classic all white away kit; Portugal (as seen above on Ronaldo) with a thick deep red v-neck, and Italy with the single best kit of the tournament: a polo type collar with Italian flag detail and gold accents and Puma logos on the shoulders. In the end the final match is so close that it comes down to penalties, or in this case the manager. The fashionable Italian Roberto Donadoni secures the win for Italy.
