Germany wear nostalgic green shirt against the Oranje in Amsterdam

On Thursday the German football team, the Mannschaft, will face the Dutch national team at the Johan Cruijff Arena, dressed in a special green shirt that directly harks back to the 1990 World Cup.

Historic shirt design

The shirt, part of the Bringback‑collection from sponsor Adidas, is derived from the green kit that Germany wore in the semi‑final against England and two years later won the world title. The design features a pattern that Dutch people instantly recognise from the Dutch shirt of 1988, a nod to that successful era.

Last Adidas season

For Germany this is the last time the team will play in an Adidas shirt; from 2027 the Mannschaft will switch to apparel sponsor Nike, ending a seventy‑year relationship. In a promotional video from Adidas it is suggested that on 3 November one final shirt for the brand’s home country will still be produced.

The shirts are not only a nostalgic look, but also a commercial initiative. In addition to Germany, Adidas is also re‑issuing classics from Belgium, Spain and Sweden, as part of the Bringback collection.

The German players, including legends such as Rudi Völler, Jürgen Klinsmann and Lothar Matthäus, wore the green shirt when they captured the world title. The shirt that Nick Woltemade is wearing is the kit in which Germany faces the Netherlands.

The last three World Cups have been disappointing for the German side, which now longs for a new era of success. This match offers a chance to relive an old era of triumph, even if only briefly.