‘A mottled mess’: Telegraph criticise Wales’ football shirts while praising England’s ‘snazzy’ look

The Telegraph newspaper has taken aim at Wales’ football shirts, criticising their appearance while ranking the “snazzy” and “classic” designs worn by England as among the best in the Euro 2020 competition.

In an article ranking every shirt in the competition from best to worst, the paper lodged both England’s home and away shirts in the top ten while ranking Wales as low as 36th.

Wales’ away shirt drew particular ire, with the newspaper suggesting that the yellow colour did not suit the nation, despite being associated with Wales through its patron saint, St. David, for centuries.

“A meeting of Welsh and Antipodean not seen since the Manic Street Preachers single Australia,” the Telegraph said. “They’ve rebadged it, you fool!

“Wales do have a proud(ish) yellow and green away tradition, before eschewing it for their wonderful summer of 2016, playing England in Lens wearing a grim grey/neon thing.

“The mottled mess of a Condivo 20 pattern again, slightly less upsetting in this context than others but still adding little. A shrug of a shirt.”

The newspaper rated their red home kit only slightly better, in 20th palace, calling it a “bit of leisurewear”.

“This is the rarest of things – a shirt which looks better on the fans than the professionals,” the article said. “Having seen it in the wild it’s lots of fun. On the players – not so much.

“Perhaps it’s those cheeky sleeve cuffs, a lively addition to your afternoon of socialising, a needless bit of frippery on the serious arms of Joe Allen.”

‘Up to date’

Scotland’s away kit was also criticised as “toilet wall in the third-best restaurant you go to all year.”

The England home kit meanwhile had the Telegraph swooning.

“Yes we’ve seen it before already, yes it’s a word from several decades ago, but there’s no two ways about it – that side line is snazzy,” they said.

“England mix it up with red and navy and it turns a templated feature into something with character. Another rarity here – a kit elevated by its numbers.

“There’s an unusual quasi-gothic font which brings the shirt up to date, offsetting the centralised emblem and logo throwing back to ’96. If football pulls its finger out and comes home this summer, this has the makings of a classic.”