Last week Jack Wilshere went back to his school in Hitchin. He watched a football training practice from the sidelines and selected the kid whose attitude and skills impressed him most. That kid was Jason Kelly. His reward? To be the first in the world to wear the new Nike England shirt. Not bad for a Monday afternoon kick around at school.

The world went a little crazy for the new England kit, as created by Nike and worn by Jason. We’re not surprised. The smart white shirt, the iconic blue collar, the golden trim on the Three Lions badge and the 150th anniversary ribbon. Very sharp indeed.

Today the shirt makes its on-pitch debut. Whilst the match against the Republic of Ireland is called a friendly, no one believes more than Nike that every game matters. Though they designed the shirt with innovation and embroidered the three lions on its chest, Nike knows that it's the players on the pitch that have the ability to really make it matter. Team Nike at W+K have made a series of films that see Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere preparing for their England duty. Their ability to make the shirt matter is celebrated by Nike.

Theo : 

Wayne:

Jack:

We can’t predict the score but we can be sure that the eleven men who line up in the new kit tonight will truly understand they have the power to make it matter. Next stop, the Maracana.