Colours
Home: white shirt with black trim and Schwarz-Rot-Gold “Chevrons” design, black shorts, white socks
Away: green shirt with black trim and Schwarz-Rot-Gold “Chevrons” design, white shorts, green or white socks
Overview
Coach: Berti Vogts.
In the early 1990s Adidas AG adapted their marketing symbol, changing the famous “flower” trefoil design for three stripes forming a triangle; this new brand identity was marketed as “Adidas Equipment”, and it was this logo that made it onto the next design for the Germany football shirt. The symbol (with the accompanying legend “Adidas Equipment”) appeared at the base of a thick black V-neck which was piped in Schwarz-Rot-Gold and decorated with two woven “DFB” symbols in gold thread. The idea of keeping the colours of the national flag on the shirt was retained in the form of what could best be described as chevrons on the arms.
The white home shirt released for the 1992 European Championship in Sweden was “watermarked” with a recurring design of three simple vertical stripes, with the national eagle in traditional black woven into the design. What was also noticeable about this design was that – apart from the subtle “watermark” – it did not feature the traditional Adidas three stripes as part of the trim, which was usually applied to the shoulders. This shirt was always worn with plain black shorts, and white socks with black “three stripe” piping.
The finals of the 1992 European Championship also saw the introduction of player names on the back of the shirt and numbers on the front – which meant that shirt designs had to be able to accommodate these new additions.
Jürgen Kohler in the 1992-1994 white home Trikot, worn at the Euro 92 tournament in Sweden
Berti Vogts reached the final only to lose to an inspired Danish side. The game I’d associate it most with would be the semi-final against the hosts which was won 3-2 with two goals coming from striker Karl-Heinz Riedle, but the man with whom I would for ever associate this shirt would be little Thomas “Icke” Häßler – who banged in a couple of spectacular free-kicks including a stunning last-minute equaliser against a dour CIS side in Germany’s opening fixture.The second shirt was of identical design to the home one, but in racing green instead of white; the neck and cuffs were identical to the home shirt design, although the national eagle was woven in white thread. Like the home shirt, this away version was also “watermarked” with a recurring three vertical stripes. It worn with plain white shorts and green socks with the traditional “three stripe” piping in white, but on at least one occasion, a friendly with the United States in December 1993, white socks were worn instead.
Andreas Thom in action against the USA in 1993, sporting the green Auswärtstrikot with white socks
As far as I can remember this green shirt was worn only a couple of times, including during the 1993 US Cup when the Nationalelf played out an action-packed battle with the hosts en route to winning the tournament where they would also come back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Brazil. I had been studying in the Czech Republic during that time, and vividly recall watching the highlights on local television.
Tournament Record
1992 UEFA European Championship, Sweden: runners-up
Shirt Debuts
White: v Italy, 25.03.1992, Torino.
Team: Illgner – Binz – Reuter, Helmer, Buchwald – Brehme (46. M. Schulz), Häßler, Matthäus, Doll (69. Bein) – Völler (46. Klinsmann), Riedle
Score 0-1 (- / Roberto Baggio pen 86.)
Green: v Uruguay, 20.12.1992, Montevideo.
Team: Köpke – Thon – Kohler, Helmer – Häßler (84. M. Sammer), Zorc, Buchwald, Matthäus, A. Möller, Doll (84. Kirsten) – Klinsmann (77. Labbadia)
Score 4-1 (Buchwald 41., Möller 60., Häßler 70., Klinsmann 76. / Moran 84.)
Shirt Images
