Bad omen for Euro 2024? England ditch traditional red away strip as they unveil new kits for tournament in Germany – as fans slam cost of £84.99 replica jerseys

England today divided opinion after ditching their traditional red away kit for Euro 2024 – as fans slammed the £84.99 price tag for replica jerseys. 

The strips – which will also be worn by the Lionesses and England Para teams in 2024 – were released by the Three Lions on social media this morning. 

While the home kit is fairly conventional, the away version is purple with multi-coloured stripes down the side. 

England generally opt for red away kits – reflecting the colour of the St George’s Cross – although they had a blue away kit during Euro 2020 and 2012. 

This year’s away strip provoked controversy on social media, with one critic calling it ‘disgusting’. 

Ollie Watkins in the controversial new purple away kit 

This year’s away strip provoked controversy on social media, with one critic calling it ‘disgusting’

They wrote: ‘Should be red (the clue is in the flat). Hopefully England fans vote with their wallets and ignore this purple monstrosity!’

A second England fan said Three Lions’ away kits ‘should always be red’ while another added: ‘It looks off-purple, I’m not sure about it’. 

A third said: ‘I’ve never been a fan of non Red away kits for England and the collar on the home seems off to me too.’ 

Others praised the design but pointed to the eye-watering price tag – £84.99 for a replica shirt and £124.99 for an ‘authentic’ one. 

Mike, a Sheffield United fan, commented: ‘I love the new @England shirts but yet again we need to hold kit manufacturers like @nikefootball to account on the prices. £64.99 for the cheapest child’s shirt is absolutely insane. No wonder so many turn to the KO market.’

Others pointed out the St George’s Cross on the back of the collar which has now been made blue and purple for reasons that have not yet been made clear.

Other fans joked that the away kit was a ‘copy and paste’ from France.

England captain Harry Kane seen wearing the home strip, which is fairly conventional 

The redesigned St George’s Cross on the collar has also divided opinion

Some fans joked that the away strip was a ‘copy and paste’ of France’s shirt (pictured is Kylian Mbappe)

One said: ‘The England away kit looks like France and the goalkeeper shirt looks like a tangerine.’

Both kits garnered mixed reactions on social media, with an Arsenal supporter writing: ‘The home kit is lovely. The away kit is just not an England kit, they’ve tried something different but I am unsure on it.’ 

A Crystal Palace supporter said that these were the ‘best England kits in years’ and they ‘would be getting both’.  

This was echoed by another England supporter, who said: ‘One of the best England kits I’ve seen for years.’

A number of users though were unhappy with one aspect of the kits they thought was missing.

England players taking part in today’s launch of England’s Euro 2024 kit 

Jack Grealish in the home shirt England will wear at Euro 2024

Others were happy about the design of the jerseys but fuming about the price tag 

One person tweeted: ‘Why do we try our best to hide our star in every kit.’

The gold star on the England kit is to represent their one and only World Cup triumph in 1966.

England’s new home kit will be shown off in a match for the first time when Gareth Southgate‘s side play Brazil in a friendly on Saturday.

The Three Lions will also play Belgium during the international period, as they ramp up their preparations for this summer’s European Championships.

England famously reached the final of the last Euros which were delayed to 2021, with Southgate’s men losing on penalties to Italy in the final.  

Gareth Southgate’s men face Brazil and Belgium in friendlies over the international break