Given that England do not have a match on their travels of any significance until their World Cup qualifying match against Andorra in Barcelona in September, it is a difficult time to launch an updated version of their famous red away kit, which Umbro at least had the wisdom to recognise.
The shortest England kit launch in recent memory passed without fanfare yesterday, with Fabio Capello’s brief appearance reflecting the seriousness of his new regime.
For those high-street fashionistas seeking to maintain their collection, the red shirt features the Three Lions crest in the centre of the chest and will be first worn in next month’s friendly against France in Paris through to the end of the World Cup campaign.
Umbro is trumpeting a revolutionary technology in the shirt’s label known as a QR (Quick Read) code, providing access to an exclusive website if you photograph it with your mobile phone, while also claiming the fabric has been anatomically cut to emphasise the athleticism of the players, which could backfire on those of a fuller-figure wearing the shirt to the pub.
England supporters will be more concerned that the players win enough matches to justify packing it for a trip to South Africa for the World Cup finals in 2010.