Why don’t England players have names on the back of their shirts against Belgium?
The change will be made for a good cause
THE names of England players’ shirts will disappear as they return after half time against Belgium tonight.
The Three Lions will play without names on their shirts during the second half of the fixture at Wembley Stadium.
Why are England shirts nameless against Belgium?
The match has been dedicated to Alzheimer’s Society International as a part of England’s Football official charity partnership.
With memory loss being the most common symptom associated with Alzheimer’s, the removal of players shirts will draw attention to how people with dementia lose their memory.
The nameless shirts were originally shown at the first Alzheimer’s Society international in 2022, where England secured a win against Switzerland.
This is being repeated at the match against Belgium to recognise that football should be unforgettable.
After the match, the shirts will be donated by the England squad and auctioned to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society research into early diagnosis.
What’s been said?
Alzheimer’s Society CEO, Katy Lee said: “We hope this striking gesture with the players’ shirts will once again get fans across the country talking, and thinking about the signs and symptoms of dementia.
“By using football to shine a spotlight and increase awareness of dementia symptoms, we hope to not only encourage fans to donate towards our early diagnosis research, but also to support their loved ones just as much as they support their football team.”
Why are England wearing their away kit against Belgium?
Manufacturer Nike are keen to promote the new strip ahead of the Euros this summer.
England showed off their new white jersey against Brazil and so this is the last remaining chance they can give fans to see the away top.
Belgium have a choice of red and light blue kits, so there is no chance of a clash with the Red Devils.