World cup 2010 news

Roberto Mancini has vowed to instil a winning mentality into his Manchester City players, and revealed his target is to conquer the Premier League next season.

We’re now entering the heart of the World Cup 2010 shirts. There are some fantastic shirts out there from adidas and Nike, no doubt, but Puma’s Africa line has been on another plane in recent years.

Most importantly, their use of the ‘mascot’ shadowed inside the shirt has been brilliant, and it’s back again this year – no points for guessing which animal the Ivorians have. In fact, not much about the home shirt, the shirt which will be predominantly used, is too different from ‘06. It’s orange, it’s simple, and there’s a giant elephant on it.

This can’t possibly be a bad thing.

Want one? Grab the Ivory Coast World Cup home shirt at our store.

The orange is obviously a clear symbol of the Ivory Coast, but in a number of images, including the one below of Kader Keita, I’ve seen a number which appear far more gold – or washed out – than the brilliant vibrant orange we’re used to. Perhaps one needs to sweat enough to deserve to wear the actual orange? That’d be genius.

Then, of course, there is the elephant. That wonderful little elephant screaming over the right shoulder, as if spurring them on. This is by far the most identifiable feature of the Puma kit and undoubtedly its best, if you ask me.

In the back there’s what appears to be an almost hexagonal pattern which I suspect is merely one of those Magic Eye posters, which shall reveal after several weeks of focus a second giant elephant on the back.

Well probably not, but someone at Puma should clearly be writing this down.

Want one? Grab the Ivory Coast World Cup away shirt at our store.

This one appears like it was just plucked off the rack at Abercrombie & Fitch. That’s not my bag, but it’s not quite bad, even if the droop in the back makes you think they’d wear an evening gown if not for those pesky names and numbers required by FIFA. At least you can’t say no one dresses for the theater anymore, even if that theater involves mud and sweaty men and Sepp Blatter.

What’s undoubtedly nice is that the lines aren’t perfect, but almost rough and raw – much like African football.