Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott scored two goals while showing off the new England kit this afternoon.
Debate has been raging around the kit since its release earlier this week. The controversy is centred around the decision to change the usual red of the St George’s flag on the back collar to a deep purple and blue instead.
Today, the kit had its first outing. And Liverpool’s Elliott appears to have potentially made his own mind up about the flag.
Playing the full 90 minutes for England – and scoring two goals to boot – the 20-year-old had ample time to try out the shirt. And as seen in pictures from the official England X account, Elliott appeared to be playing with his collar up, hiding the flag.
England shirt controversy explained
Now, no one can say for sure exactly why Elliott chose to wear the kit this way. Perhaps it was nothing more than a fashion choice. Harvey is someone who takes his image seriously, and maybe he simply thought it looked better that way.
But given the controversy surrounding the kit right now, people may well be reading more into it.
The shirt seems really quite innocuous in itself, but the changing of the two horizontal arms of the England flag from red to purple has caused a collective head-loss.
TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara has been one to blast the design, taking to X on Thurday night to question the decision.
“I represented England as a schoolboy to U21 everytime I put the shirt on to play for my country I felt pride,” wrote the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder. “I felt honoured I felt united and inspired because I was wearing a shirt that had my national flag on it, Nike give our players there [sic] flag back.”
The debate has even reached parliament, with prime minister Rishi Sunak weighing in this afternoon [The Times].
Harvey Elliott makes his mark
Aside from any reason Elliott might have put his collar up this afternoon, it’s important to point out that he was in terrific form.
The 20-year-old was mightily, mightily unlucky not to have earned a senior call-up from Gareth Southgate. And this is yet more evidence that he thoroughly deserves one.
It was also great to see Tyler Morton out there for England. Morton himself has been in top form on-loan at Hull City and he provided a quite stunning assists for Elliott this afternoon.
So, whatever the reasons Elliott stuck his collar up today, it’s ultimately unimportant. It’s not really something Harvey need to clarify. In the meantime, he just keeps on delivering.