With the 2018 World Cup now well and truly behind us, the Football Association of Ireland have released the new Republic of Ireland away kit this afternoon.
While the Ireland's women's team do not have a fixture scheduled after their home tie against Northern Ireland on 31 August, the jersey may make its debut when the men's team travel to Poland in September for an international friendly.
Ireland Away Kit:
🇮🇪 Taking Irish passion on the road.
Presenting the brand new @NBFootball @FAIreland away kit. #UndeniablePassion #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/NK3AIThp6N— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) July 25, 2018
Following an initiative carried out by Everton and Barcelona recently, the task of unveiling the new kit was first carried out by Ireland's women's national team. Shared on the Football Association of Ireland's Twitter page, it carried the usual solemnity of a kit-launch.
Shortly thereafter, the new Ireland away kit was modeled by members of the men's squad; with Declan Rice seeming to have lost concentration on what he wasn't meant to be doing.
Crafted with precision. Worn with pride. #NBFootball #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/ANwQpJCQ1I
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) July 25, 2018
🇮🇪 The brand new @NBFootball @FAIreland away kit is available from 9am tomorrow on https://t.co/onVzZz5S3t! #COYBIG #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/UKpVVNELmF
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) July 25, 2018
Something of an acquired taste it would seem, the new kit does appear to be something of a step backward in comparison to the older, more streamlined version.
The Ireland away kit that will forever hold a place in the memories of Irish football fans, will this new kit have the chance to feature on a night as memorable as Ireland's 1-0 win in Cardiff late last year?
By and large, the response to the new kit from New Balance has been largely negative. However, given the repetition with which Ireland are reproducing new away kits to purchase, this shouldn't be such a surprise.
With the first new kit of the New Balance era coming in 2017, it is similarly reported that a new Ireland home kit if similarly in the pipeline.
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