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Football

08th Jun 2015

It’s tough to choose a Copa America winner… but even harder to pick the best jersey

How many of these would you buy?

Will Slattery

The Copa America starts on Thursday and while there is lots of exciting football that needs to be previewed we are going to start with the most important thing of all: the jerseys.

Brazil and Argentina are obviously the favourites on the pitch, but the beauty of the sartorial battle is that every team has a chance. That being said, of the 12 teams competing in this year’s tournament, not all of the jerseys are equally pleasing on the eye.

We critically evaluated each effort, and ranked them from worst to first.

12. Ecuador

Ecuadorean footballer Gabriel Achilier stands before the start of a friendly international football match between Ecuador and Panama on July 6, 2015 in Ecuador, ahead of the upcoming Copa America to be held in Chile. AFP PHOTO / JUAN CEVALLOS        (Photo credit should read JUAN CEVALLOS/AFP/Getty Images)

Ecuador’s jersey is a perfect marriage of an ugly colour and an uninspired design. A real eyesore, you will need some sort of protective goggles if you ever encounter its ghastliness in person.

11. Bolivia 

Argentina v Bolivia - International Friendly

Very bland and traditional… where is the Latin flair?

10. Colombia

FBL-COPAM2015-FRIENDLY-COL-CRC

Colombia are being penalised heavily in this ranking for deviating so drastically from what was a smashing jersey at the 2014 World Cup. Adidas greed has robbed us of a lovely strip.

9. Paraguay 

Paraguay's  national football team members pose for a photo before their friendly match against  Honduras at the Manuel Ferreira stadium in Asuncion , Paraguay, on  June, 6, 2015.AFP PHOTO Norberto Duarte        (Photo credit should read NORBERTO DUARTE/AFP/Getty Images)

You could start designing the Paraguay jersey at 4.55pm on a Friday evening and be done before you finish your shift at 5pm.

8. Jamaica

KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 11: Demar Phillips #12 of the Jamaica down the field against the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team at Sporting Park on October 11, 2013 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

Not a bad jersey but the supersized crest and strange position of the number is particularly jarring.

7. Peru

FBL-COPAM2015-FRIENDLY-PER-MEX

Strong primary colours from the Peruvians and the racing stripe is a nice touch.

6. Chile

RANCAGUA, CHILE - JUNE 05:  Gary Medel of Chile controls the ball during a friendly match between Chile and El Salvador at El Teniente de Rancagua Stadium on June 05, 2015 in Rancagua, Chile. (Photo by Marlon Gomez/LatinContent/Getty Images)

Unlike Colombia, Chile have benefited from keeping a similar style to the one that looked nice in the World Cup. Also one-upped Peru by adding a second stripe.

5. Venezuela

venezuela

You could definitely be forgiven if this is the first time you have ever seen a Venezuela jersey. But it is a pleasant surprise, isn’t it?

4. Brazil

Brazil v Mexico - International Friendly

Whoever invented Y-necks is a disgraceful human being who deserves to be ostracised from mainstream society or at the very least, made wear a bell. On a related note, the inclusion of a Y-neck is what keeps Brazil out of the top 3.

3. Uruguay 

South Korea v Uruguay - International Friendly

This light blue colour is an old classic but there is a reason Uruguay haven’t changed the tint in about 80 years – it works.

2. Mexico

Brazil v Mexico - International Friendly

Technically, this is Mexico’s alternate strip but it is such a nice variation on their regular jersey that it warrants such a lofty spot here.

1. Argentina

Argentina v Bolivia - International Friendly

They only managed a second place finish at last year’s World Cup but topping this ranking no doubt makes up for that heartbreak. The clean blue and white lines are almost as nice to see as their football.

Which jersey do you think is the best among the Copa America participants?

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