Nike are continuing to capitalise on their position as the new technical supplier to the England national team and partner to the FA with a new video series called England Matters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0MazdT62H0
At a fairly-lengthy 6 minutes long, Nike’s England Matters – Episode One focuses on two of England’s brightest young prospects – Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain – as they looked to make their impact in the Three Lions’ last two internationals against Ireland and away to Brasil.
Nike were clearly afforded some very candid behind-the-scenes time with the players and an all-access pass to both Wembley at the Maracana, as this is England as you’ve never seen them before.
Shots from training, in the team’s dressing rooms as well as glorious high-definition touchline footage of the games themselves give this episode of England matters a level of production value that almost looks like a blockbuster film.
Soundtracked by a stirring piano-and-strings arrangement, this episode is one of contrasts, as Sturridge talks about his early exit from the Ireland friendly at Wembley and ‘The Ox’ gets a glorious goal against Brasil at the Maracana.
After a generation of England’s footballers being accused of aloofness and a lack of passion for the shirt, the greatest achievement of Nike’s latest video is, without question, humanising not just the two players in it’s focus, but the experience of playing for your country.
Whilst there has been plenty of grumbles over Nike’s inheritance of the FA technical supplier deal, great insights like this go a long way to winning people over.
