What’s in a nickname?

Like domestic club sides, international teams have nicknames. It is often the case at club level that these sobriquets are slightly unimaginative, and merely describe the colour of the side’s shirt. But in different languages these names become more exotic and phonetically pleasing. For example, Argentina are the Albicelestes (white and sky blue) whilst Italy, famously are the Azurri. Spain have developed colour-based nickname theme and, like the Red Devils of Man Utd, their nickname has some additional bite, as they are the La Furia Roja (the red fury).

You’d also think that ‘national team’ wouldn’t be much of a nickname, but when it translates into Nationalmannschaft, which is the German team’s moniker, it sounds a bit more substantial and impressive. Fittingly, the most celebrated national team, Brazil, have an attractive and enigmatic nickname: they are A Seleção which simply means ‘the selection’.

The nicknames of African sides seem more deliberately designed as inspirational emblems which link to significant national characteristics, such as animals which are the country’s natural residents. Cameroon are Les Lions Indomptables (the indomitable lions), Ivory Coast are Les Éléphants, Algeria are Les Fennecs (the desert foxes), whilst Nigeria are the Super Eagles. Ghana and South Africa buck the African animal-based trend: Ghana are The Black Stars which makes reference to their national flag. South Africa’s is one of the hippest sounding nicknames -Bafana Bafana (the boys, the boys) but was coined in the 1990s to signify their lack of experience in international football. It therefore doesn’t instil quite the same sense of national vigour as the other African nicknames, but a good run as hosts could add substance to the cheeky rhythm of Bafana Bafana.

Elsewhere in the world, South Korea have an interesting nickname, Taegeuk Jeonsa (Taegeuk Warriors). Taegeuk philosophy has strong links with South Korean culture and highlights that the essence of everything inheres in any one thing. Australia have opted for a playful name, linking the sport with their most famous indigenous animal, to form The Socceroos.

In comparison with such an exciting and diverse array of names, England’s The Three Lions (which relates to the team badge) sounds a bit half-hearted. Of course it could just be familiarity with one’s own culture and language which renders it a touch bland. In Italian, Three Lions would be a more lyrical I Tre Leoni, whilst in Russian they would be an exciting and arcane Трех Львов. But apart from its effective use within the Baddiel/Skinner song, The Three Lions moniker has never captured the national imagination. Perhaps part of the issue is that referring to a team of eleven players as three lions doesn’t really work. So perhaps ‘Eleven Lions’ would be better – but that would cause a bit of a squeeze for space on the team badge, and could also become less meaningful if a player is sent off.

Is The Three Lions up to standard as a nickname? Can you think of any alternatives?