What do Australia, Denmark, Brazil and Costa Rica all have in common?
They all played their second group stage matches at the World Cup in their away kits.
There are not many, if any, more iconic national team kits than Brazil's home strip - yellow jersey with green trim, blue shorts and white socks - and it worked OK against Switzerland but not on Friday.
Supporters were in for a surprise as the five-time world champions and their opponents Costa Rica walked out for their World Cup Group E clash in Saint Petersburg wearing their away colours despite no apparent clash in their home kits.
Brazil were kitted out in all-blue while The Ticos traded in their red shirt and blue shorts for all-whites, with black trim.
On Thursday the Socceroos wore their dark green away kit in their Group C encounter with Denmark, who flipped their customary kit - again with no apparent clash in their home kits.
However, according to the Totally Football Show podcast, that decision was to help the colour-blind Danish midfielder Thomas Delaney, who would have otherwise struggled to differentiate between Australia's yellow and Denmark's white. Although isn't Denmark's home kit jersey red?
Regardless, when asked about the reason behind the decision to change Brazil and Costa Rica kits, a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters by email: "The colours are actually shared with the teams in April and are only reconfirmed at the match coordination meeting on the day before the match."
The spokesperson added that the decision on kits is based on a variety of factors, including potential colour clashes and requests from teams.
"It also takes into account the need to keep a certain balance by allowing the teams to use their home and away kits. In general, FIFA endeavour to ensure that each team wears its official team kit at least once during the group stage," they said.
Australian Associated Press
