00:00 It's just 12 weeks until Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany, and with it the chance for
00:07 the competing nations to show off their new kits.
00:13 On Monday, England launched their new men's Home and Away shirts to little fanfare.
00:18 However, one small detail on the famous white shirt has provoked a strong public response.
00:24 Previous iterations of the Three Lions shirt have featured England's flag, a red cross
00:29 on a white background.
00:30 This year, though, Nike have decided on what they call a playful update to the Cross of
00:35 St George to unite and inspire.
00:38 The Home shirt collar features a cross with navy, light blue and purple.
00:43 Nike say it's a nod to the training kit worn by England's 1966 World Cup winning team.
00:49 "I like it.
00:50 They sort of try and change it, make it a bit more modern each year.
00:54 A bit controversial, not having the red and white on the back, but I think it can grow
00:59 on us, particularly if we go on and do well in the championship this summer."
01:02 "I think it's a fun touch and it'll always be the St George's cross no matter what the
01:08 colour is."
01:09 However, the move has not been met with universal acclaim.
01:12 "I think it's just about trying to unite people, but I think the flag of St George's
01:18 shouldn't be messed with like that."
01:19 "Well, it doesn't look like a cross, a proper cross."
01:20 "I think they should keep the original flag on it, but get rid of that one, maybe keep
01:26 that new shirt."
01:27 "That's the traditional one I see, the red one, that's what I'd say."
01:31 Politicians too are having their say on Nike's creative license.
01:35 "Look, obviously I prefer the original and my general view is that when it comes to our
01:40 national flags we shouldn't mess with them because they're a source of pride, identity,
01:45 who we are and they're perfect as they are."
01:47 "So, I mean, I just think it's all a bit odd.
01:50 I mean, I don't understand why you can't have the St George's flag that looks like the St
01:53 George's flag.
01:54 I mean, what would the French make?
01:56 If you suddenly put, I don't know, bits of purple on the tricolour."
01:58 Emily Thornberry's party leader, Sakhir Starmer, told The Sun, "The flag is used by everybody.
02:04 It's unifying.
02:05 It doesn't need to change.
02:07 We just need to be proud of it."
02:09 Whilst Reform MP Lee Anderson put it as colourfully as Nike's new cross, "This virtue-signalling
02:15 namby-pamby pearl-clutching woke nonsense must stop.
02:18 Any more of this and I'll be on the first flight to Rwanda."
02:22 Nike currently manufacture the kits for other nations too.
02:25 France, Portugal, Poland and the Netherlands, none of which appear to feature their country's
02:30 national flag.
02:32 But equally, no playful updates on the team's colours either.
02:36 For those offended by a multi-coloured St George's cross, England do have a rather fetching
02:41 purple away number.
02:42 Whichever shirt you choose, it could end up setting you back £125.
02:47 (upbeat music)
Comments