World Cup Team Nicknames
On our USA blog there is a really interesting post about the fact that the United States does not have a nickname for its team. It has taken a bit of work, but I have put together an unofficial list of team nicknames for the teams in this year’s World Cup.
As you can see, I am missing nicknames for the United States (which doesn’t have one) and Switzerland (the best I could find was “Swiss”).
Angola: Os Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes)
Argentina - Albicelestes (sky-blue white)
Australia: Socceroos
Brazil: Seleção Canarinho (Canary bird selection)
Costa Rica - Los Ticos
Croatia – Vatreni
Czech Republic - Locomotive
Ecuador – La Tri
England- The Three Lions
Ghana - Black Stars
Iran - Team Mehdi or Team Melli
Ivory Coast - The Elephants
Japan – Blues
France: Les Bleus
Germany: Mannschaft
Holland: Oranje (orange)
Italy: Azzurri
Korea Republic – Asian Tigers, Taeguk Warriors
Mexico - El Tricolor
Paraguay - Albirroja (white and read)
Poland - Biało-czerwoni (The White and the Red)
Portugal: Selecção das Quinas
S.Arabia - alakhdar or Falcons or Sons of Desert
Serbia: Plavi (the blue)
Spain: La Furia (the fury)
Sweden - De blå gula (Blue and yellow)
T&T - Soca Warriors
Togo - The Hawks
Tunisia - Carthages Eagles
Ukraine – Zbirna
To me it is clear that the African nations have the coolest nicknames. What do you think?
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Comments
By Euler | January 26th, 2006 at 3:21 pm 
Here in Brazil we use a LOT the short version of ours: seleção (selection).
Canarinho is a yellow little bird. This nickname was adopted after the loss of the 1950 World Cup. Until that day our team used only white shirts. After that they changed it to the yellow ones.
By Ade Lamidi | January 26th, 2006 at 3:22 pm I agree with you that the African teams have cool names. Other cool names are Three Lions, Socceroos, Asian Tigers.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Bob | January 26th, 2006 at 3:44 pm I’ve never been able to take the name Socceroos seriously. I think it reminds me too much of the Superman underoos underwear I used to wear as a kid.
By chris | January 26th, 2006 at 6:29 pm I agree with the non-seriousness of the Socceroos name. Not because of any juvenile underwear choices, to me it just sounds silly (and I’m an Aussie). We have a selection of 9 out of ten of the world’s most poisonous snakes and a host of other dangerous arachnids and reptiles. You think we’d be able to come up with something a bit more intimidating than a Socceroo.
Posted from 
United States
By Queso | January 27th, 2006 at 2:01 am I thought the US was the “Nats”.
Posted from United States
By xvwvx | January 27th, 2006 at 10:55 am I think the African nations have the coolest names too, although I’m partial to El Tricolor (or El Tri, for short).
Posted from United States
By Chris | January 27th, 2006 at 2:56 pm How about ‘The Alamo Boys’ for the US.
By daryl | January 27th, 2006 at 5:07 pm The USA team does get called “The Nats” and sometimes “MNT” (Men’s National Team) but these aren’t really nicknames. A nickname should inspire pride in the team, maybe even intimidate the opposition a bit. For example, would you rather play against “The Nats” or “The Indominatable Lions”?
Posted from United States
By Queso | January 28th, 2006 at 3:23 pm I found out Switzerland’s nickname.
Its “Die Eidgenossen” meaning the Oath Comrades. Basically calling back when switzerland was created as a Confedracy.
Posted from United States
By Bense | January 29th, 2006 at 8:07 am Some additional nicknames:
Japan: Ravens
France: Equipe Tricolore
Italy: Tricolori
Netherlands: De Elftal (The Eleven)
Mexico: Lobos (Wolves)
Spain: La Funa, La seleccion
Sweden: Tre Kronors (Three crowns - the coat of arms)
Germany: Nationalelf (Nationalelf), “Die, die den Adler tragen - Those who carry the eagle” (on their chests)
Best regards from snowy Germany
Posted from United States
By Starry Wisdom | January 29th, 2006 at 3:20 pm Though not going to Germany, a nod must be made to the national squad of minnows Benin, who go by the charming moniker the “flying squirrels”. Bullwinkel beware!
Posted from United States
By Chefchef | January 31st, 2006 at 9:21 pm More nicknames:
Ecuador : “Los Amarillos”
Switzerland : “Die Nati” (for “National Team”, not very original…)
Brazil : “Auriverdes”
“Vatreni” means “The Fiery Ones” but I don’t know the meaning of “Zbirna”…
South Korea : Red Devils
The US Rugby squad is called “The US Eagles” and it’s pretty cool. Maybe some inspiration for the soccer team…
Posted from 
Belgium
By Bense | February 4th, 2006 at 5:44 pm It’s true, I’ve forgotten Switzerland.
“Die Nati” is being pronounced sort of like “Nazi”. But it has a solely different meaning. In Swiss German the “t” is spoken like some sort of a standardized german “z”.
Posted from United States
By Matt | July 10th, 2006 at 8:55 am Switzerland: Die Eidgenosse. The Oath Comrades. Sounds extremely official, almost win-or-die official. But there is uncertainty over the origin of the name. Most plausible theory is that it is related to the Swiss origins in the 13th century. To avoid confusion, do like most Swiss and call the team “Nati.”
Posted from 
China
By World Cup Round up: Bafana Bafana no more, Nike buy Umbro, Scotland hold Firm - World Cup Blog | October 23rd, 2007 at 1:37 pm [...] Scotland hold Firm By: WC Bob | October 23rd, 2007 | No Comments » Spanning the list of nicknames of national teams from around the world, one sees that Africa is the home of many cool nicknames including the Bafana [...]
Posted from United States
By Paul | October 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 pm I think Germany could also be called Die Elf (the Eleven). My thought, it would be fun to call them “Beckenbauer’s Best.”
As for the USA, names may be lacking, but I think the Yanks will ever stay in the hearts of the World’s fans.
Posted from United States
By sharon ho;;amd | January 2nd, 2008 at 5:55 pm was looking for canada’s nickname it’s not on your list
By sharon holland | January 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm was looking for canada’s nickname it’s not listed
By Eros | January 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm Canada : canucks
Albania : Eagles
Posted from 
Canada
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