PUMA launched the highly-anticipated Italy 2014 World Cup home and away jerseys a couple of weeks ago before FIFA’s only international break before this year’s tournament on Brazil. The new home kit was worn for the first time in a 1-0 loss to defending World Cup and European champions Spain.
Given that Italy is PUMA’s highest profile national team and four-time world champions, the Azzurri’s new kits have been given the royal treatment for their launch. The campaign is led by the new face of PUMA Football, mercurial striker Mario Balotelli with a heavy web component.
As part of the Italy 2014 World Cup kit launch, PUMA have provided major soccer websites such as Football Fashion with a special edition media kit that includes the Authentic (Player Issue) version of the Azzurri’s new home shirt. This is the same jersey that will be worn by the likes of Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo at Brazil 2014. Here is our World Exclusive up-close look at the new kit. It is now available at World Soccer Shop, Subside Sports and Kitbag along with the rest of the PUMA Italy 2014-15 range.
Media Kit
There are several items in the PUMA Italy 2014 World Cup home shirt media kit that are only available to the press. These are the #StartBelieving box, a package of Italian espresso beans, candles in the red, white and green of Italy, a mini Italian flag and an impressive booklet that opens up to play the kit launch video below.
Fans purchasing the authentic jersey will get the shirt in the high-end, classy leather tablet case shown that can be used for show of their support for Italy even when not wearing the famous blue shirt.
Italy 2014 World Cup Home Jersey Design
After the jagged collared, modern feel of the Italy 2010 World Cup home kit (complete with a print that reminded many of Iron Man), PUMA took a more traditional approach with for the team’s EURO 2012 shirt. This trend has continued with the Italian 2014 World Cup jersey which is a slim fitting kit with tailored collar and placket. The Italian national colors are proudly displayed via sleeve inserts and taping on the placket.
The authentic version of the shirt takes a high tech twist via the inclusion of PUMA PWR ACTV athletic tape strips in key positions on the jersey to support players’ muscles and aid in performance optimization on the pitch. Cooling is added via ventilated side panels that lead to the underarm area and a fully ventilated back.
The FIGC badge, PUMA logos and an inside tag on the tail area of the kit reading “Tradizione” (“Tradition” in English) are all screen printed on the player issue version of the jersey in order to minimize its weight. While we do prefer embroidered and stitched tags, they are only available in replica versions of the shirt.
Fit
The Italy 2014 World Cup PUMA authentic home jersey is very slim and form fitting. As you can see from its launch pictures, it fits very much like a compression top and has no loose areas. It is also extremely light in weight. As such, it is an excellent top to wear for playing soccer, running or even working out while wanting to rock your Azzurri pride.
When to Wear
If you’ve got a little extra baggage in the waist area or do not have an athletic build, there is no room to hide with this shirt. Stick with a replica version of the jersey if you’re not proud of those unwanted pounds. Otherwise, you can wear the new Italy authentic kit just about anywhere that casual clothing works. It will look great from the pitch to the pub.
See our Kits and Jerseys section for more of the latest football shirt releases.