The forgotten history of Kappa Kombat Woman Not everyone knows that one of the most famous models of the early 00s was also made for the women's national team

The Kappa Kombat jerseys are considered a defining moment in the history of modern football. The collaboration between the brand and Lycra completely revolutionised the design of the time and resulted in a jersey that was tight to the body and extremely elastic - in stark contrast to the oversized look of the time. Visually, the jersey was completely slimmed down and placed function above form. The most important decorative element was the inverted seams, which were made with a darker thread than the main colour of the body. The jerseys quickly became a cult hit and their cult status is part of collector folklore. The Kombat series is still very popular today and 20 years later it continues to evolve from year to year with minor changes.

Pictures of the jersey in action are hard to come by, but when you notice the differences, you can't help but pay attention to the fine details: the looser fit, the defined cuffs at the end of the sleeves and the collar, which you can't tell is really a collar. But also the absence of the three stars on the sleeve symbolising the victories in the men's World Cup. This was a real jersey designed for the women's team, which until then wore exactly the same jersey as the men, including the stars. Unfortunately, the Azzurre were eliminated in the group stage in 2001, although they won their first match, and it seems that they wore these jerseys until PUMA started producing them for Italy in 2003. It is difficult to say whether the jerseys actually made it to the market. Therefore, it is very likely that many of the jerseys in circulation are match-worn, especially as many of the jerseys available for purchase already have a number on them. A real collector's item.