Young 'Vatreni' First to Try on New Adidas Jerseys
The U-16 national team debuted in the new technical sponsor's kit in Suhopolje, with the full collection featuring Glagolitic script and lace expected in September.
The U-16 national team debuted in the new technical sponsor's kit in Suhopolje, with the full collection featuring Glagolitic script and lace expected in September.
The Croatian national football team's cadets, specifically the under-16 selection led by head coach Marijan Budimir, were the first to wear the new jerseys now produced by Adidas during their summer camp in Suhopolje. This moment marked the symbolic beginning of a new era for the Croatian Football Federation, which ended its 26-year partnership with Nike.
The young internationals stayed in Suhopolje from August 12 to 17, where they tested their strength against two older teams at Park Stadium. In the first match, the U-17 team of Osijek came out on top, winning 2:1. Petar Odobašić scored twice for Osijek, while Karlo Horvat found the net for the other side. In the second match, against Slaven Belupo's U-17 squad, Budimir's charges redeemed themselves with a 1:0 victory, with Gabriel Hrmić scoring the only goal.
The current version of the jerseys is quite simple, adorned with Adidas's iconic stripes and Croatian checkered pattern. The anticipated Glagolitic script in the red fields is not yet present. According to expectations, the senior team's kit will be significantly more detailed, including the Glagolitic motif, while the blue variant is expected to feature lace patterns. The official unveiling of the full collection is planned for September, ahead of the start of the Nations League campaign.
The collaboration between the Croatian Football Federation and Adidas officially began on August 1, just a day after the 26-year contract with Nike expired on July 31. The public thus got its first glimpse of what the German manufacturer has in store for the Croatian national team, with camp photos captured by Tin Szabo and Mario Šolc.
