The Shirt Tournament of Champions is our quest to figure out what the best football shirt of all time is. It may not be perfect, but we’re doing it our way, with some fun and knowledge. More information on the tournament and all current matchups can be found here, here, and here.
We’ve reached the final four of this competition and it’s rather interesting. Did anyone think that the 1994 USMNT shirt would actually make it this far? Is it really the fourth best shirt of all time? (no) Or have the folks at The Denim Kit been willing it to victory?
Either way it faces some stiff competition in the second round. The 2008 Holland shirt has constantly clobbered it’s opponents and even took down one of it’s own, and one of the favorites, the 1974 Holland Kit. I can’t see the USMNT pulling this one off, but stranger things have happened.
Euro 2008 Holland
The Dutch are the only team to have two shirts that are so similar in this tournament (The USMNT is the only other to have two shirts here and they’re complete opposites) but with good reason, they do orange well. How many people in a single day do you see wearing safety orange that aren’t doing construction? Probably zero. The Dutch continue to pull it off year after year. There are three components to this shirt and individually they’re all nothing amazing, but together they’re awesome, like the power rangers robot thing.
First is the collar, it’s a rather wild design of a half and half collar, which would normally look dumb, but when on the shirt it’s nice. Half Netherlands flag, half white, is just a really nice compliment to the shirt. Second is the badge, the bold large white badge against the orange really makes it stand out. Finally we have the orange shirt, it’s bright loud, and wild. Putting them all together you have a shirt that is pretty much close to perfect.
1994 World Cup USMNT Away
Again, Mike Georger chimes in on why he picked this shirt:
I actually loved this kit. I know everyone else hates it but I think it exemplifies the horrific style of the time and looks damn near denim. It was my first World Cup so I had no idea this was atrocious at the time but it’s a sentimental pick. Also I picked this because Mags picked that horrendously uninspired Spain kit from last year. My GOD that thing was boring.
(FYI, for this round the results of the voting will be kept secret and the winners will be announced in the final post on Tuesday.)
You’ve got to be kidding me. Now way in Hell is the 94 US kit better than the 50s kit. Stupid misplaced 90s nostalgia. I was quite young for most of the 90s, but I don’t remember them being all that awesome.
I, for one, welcome our new Oranje overlords.
Also, and absolute squeaker in the Holland-Holland matchup. 08 beat 74 by 3.22% (51.61% to 48.39%). Fuse, what was the spread in terms of absolute numbers?
I’d love to know that, too. I can’t really believe the new guy won, but I’m definitely voting for him here.
’94 was a great year for music, but not much else.
It was two votes that separated them. I was surprised too when I saw that.
The USA ’94 kit must be stopped.
I have joined your noble quest.
Third. And then we shall ride for Camelot…on second thought, let’s not go to Camelot for it is a silly place (much like that is a silly shirt).
Instead let us all go to Castle Anthrax, perhaps Zoot will model the winning shirt for us.
DENIM DENIM DENIM DENIM
USA USA USA USA
walk down the street with holland and everyone will think you are some construction dude.
walk down the street with 94′ and everyone gets it… what “it” is, nobody knows-
I’m pretty sure it’s gonorrhea.
If Lalas wore it, you’re definitely getting gonorrhea. You’d also be getting an unearned, misplaced smugness that will make everyone want to punch you in the face. I’ll leave it up to you to decide it that comes from Alexi or from the nass-asty faux denim shirt you’re wearing.
DENIM 4 LIFE — Don’t discount the importance of 1994 in U.S soccer history – a truly special year in many ways.
The first and only World Cup on U.S soil and the first World Cup win for the Yanks since 1950. Historic.
That may well be true, but it doesn’t improve the horrifying shirt design.
voted old school (74 and 50) last time.
denim cannot win.
I’m voting for Denim out of protest for the better Holland kit losing.
This. Like my would-be vote for Ralph Nader in 2000, this is purely an emotional protest vote.
It’s gotta be Holland.
Gah. Two not great shirts. Must pull out the vanity vote – I look terrible in orange, but it would make my rack look better than would the “denim”. Oranje it is.