Why Germany play in white kit despite Euro 2024 hosts having yellow, red and black flag

Many of Germany's most memorable football moments share a common thread - the colour white. From Jurgen Klinsmann hoisting the Euro 96 trophy in front of Queen Elizabeth at Wembley to the 1974 World Cup final win over the greatest Dutch team in history.

All of those victories were celebrated in the colour that has become emblematic of German football, despite the fact that white doesn't feature on the country's red, black and yellow flag. The inspiration for Germany's kit dates back almost 1,000 years, far predating the 'Bundesflagge', and will lead the team into battle once more at Euro 2024.

It was back in the 1100s that a religious military group known as the Teutonic Order was established in Jerusalem to assist Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land. When Christianity was effectively expelled from the region, the Order relocated to the Baltics.

The Teutonic Knights flew a white flag adorned with a black cross, which was later changed to a black eagle, as explained by the Mirror. The black eagle has long been a part of Germany's iconography and still features on the country's coat of arms today.

As far back as the 13th century, when Germany was part of the larger Prussian Empire, the Holy Roman Emperor's coat of arms first appeared depicting that same creature. It showed a black eagle decorated with a red beak and feet on a gold background, which eventually evolved into the flag we see today.

However, when Germany's national team was established around the start of the 20th century, they chose to adopt the white and black colours of the Prussian flag. And they retained those colours despite the state being dissolved shortly after.

That same flag also featured a black eagle, which is still part of the Germany kit crest today. Over time, some uniforms for the national team have incorporated the red, black and yellow seen on the country's flag, though only in minor details.

That being said, white remains the colour most synonymous with Die Mannschaft's success, Or, perhaps more recently, their lack of glory given the team has struggled to replicate its usual tournament fortitude since the 2018 World Cup.

Julian Nagelsmann, leading the host nation into Euro 2024, aims to rectify that record this summer, starting with Friday's opening match against Scotland. The tournament kicks off in Munich, where his side will be hoping for some luck in what could be a potential stumbling block.