Germany to play Ghana in Nazi-style black shirts

GERMANY is set to kick up a Reich stink at the World Cup by playing in Nazi-style black shirts.

They will first wear them in friendlies and then against Ghana at the South Africa finals.

Kit-makers claim the outfits will symbolise team spirit. But critics blasted the move as a goose-step too far.

The strip, created by German firm adidas, resembles the first-ever colours worn by a German national team in 1898. But they are sure to also conjure up memories of the notorious SS, who terrorised Europe during the war. Hitler’s personal protection squad wore a jet black uniform.

The name Blackshirts was also used by Italian dictator Mussolini’s henchmen and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists.

Bricklayer Michael Hayes, 28, from Bromley, south London, said: “Last time they wore black shirts they wanted world domination then as well, so I supp-ose it’s appropriate.

“It might raise a few eyebrows from my grandad’s generation.”

The kit was yesterday modelled by Germany captain and Chelsea star Michael Ballack, 33, but the first strip is still white.

Adidas said: “Eleven stripes are sewn into the shirt to symbolise team spirit.”