When Italy strode out in Arnhem's GelreDome to take on Turkey in the opening group game at Euro 2000, Totti, Inzaghi, Del Piero and co wore a shirt that would heavily influence kit design for the next two decades.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Kappa's iconic Kombat jersey, the first skin-tight shirt to grace planet football. In an instant, the big and baggy fit of the 90s was consigned to history, replaced instead with a sharper, snugger jersey.
Thanks to a new innovative technology, more elastic than normal, as well as a light and comfortable "second skin" texture for the player, the Kombat 2000 set a new standard.
"When the defender grabs Inzaghi's shirt, the shirt stretches and the referee sees it. It stretches up to more than 40cm longer than normal, and with 40 centimeters more, you score," said Emanuele Ostini, designer of the jersey, during the official presentation in 2000.
Twenty years on, Kappa are celebrating the Kombat shirt by unveiling a collector's jerseys for a host of their clubs - including Aston Villa. The shirt is part of a retro collection, which includes tracksuits influenced by the era.
Two-tone collars, embroidered logos, as well as the iconic and timeless Kappa banda, appear on all of the pieces.
The collection is available here.
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