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Do you know some nicknames that I don't? If your answer is in the affirmative, tell me, and help inform the world!
| UEFA |
| Belgium | Diables Rouges |
| Croatia | Fiery Eleven |
| Denmark | Danish Dynamite |
| England | Three Lions |
| France | les Bleus |
| Rep Ireland | Boys in Green |
| Italy | Azzurri |
| Netherlands | Oranje |
| Poland | Bialoczerwoni |
| Spain | la Furia Roja |
| Sweden | Tre Kronan |
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| CAF |
| Algeria | Desert Warriors |
| Benin | Squirrels |
| Burkina Faso | Stallions |
| Cameroon | Indomitable Lions |
| Congo | Red Devils |
| Congo DR | Simbas |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Elephants |
| Egypt | Pharaohs |
| Gabon | Panthers |
| Gambia | Scorpions |
| Ghana | Black Stars |
| Kenya | Harambee Stars |
| Lesotho | Likoena |
| Liberia | Lone Star |
| Madagascar | Malagasy |
| Malawi | Flames |
| Mali | Eagles |
| Morocco | Atlas Lions |
| Mozambique | Mambas |
| Namibia | Brave Warriors |
| Nigeria | Super Eagles |
| Senegal | Lions |
| Sierra Leone | Leone Stars |
| South Africa | Bafana Bafana |
| Swaziland | Sihlangu |
| Togo | Hawks |
| Tunisia | Carthage Eagles |
| Uganda | Cranes |
| Zambia | Chipolopolo |
| Zimbabwe | Warriors |
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| CONMEBOL |
| Argentina | Albiceleste |
| Brazil | Verdeamarelhos |
| Chile | la Roja |
| Colombia | Cafeteros |
| Peru | Incas |
| Uruguay | Charrúas |
| Venezuela | Vinotinto |
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| AFC |
| Singapore | Lions |
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| CONCACAF |
| Barbados | Bajan Rockets |
| Canada | Maple Leafs |
| Costa Rica | Ticos |
| El Salvador | Guanacos |
| Grenada | Spice Boyz |
| Guatemala | Chapines |
| Honduras | Catrachos |
| Jamaica | Reggae Boyz |
| Mexico | Tricolores |
| Panama | Cañaleros |
| Trinidad-Tobago | Soca Warriors |
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| OFC |
| Australia | Socceroos |
| New Zealand | All Whites |
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EXPLANATIONS
Some of these owe themselves to explanations. The coloured ones [Diables Rouges, Azzurri, Vinotinto, All Whites, ...] come from the team uniforms. The Three Lions are so named because their uniforms contain the emblem of the Football Association, which depicts [you guessed it] three lions. A few, like the Black Stars, the Lone Star, and the Tricolores, originate from their respective nations' flags. The Pharaohs, the Cafeteros, the Reggae Boyz, and the Cañaleros were all named for things with which their respective nations are typically identified. Mambas are a type of snake, and "Chipolopolo" means "bullets". I'm still trying to figure out what the "Catrachos" are supposed to be.
THANKS TO
My pal Romeo Ahohe informed me that Benin's national side are the Squirrels. Meanwhile, in a fun article that appeared on Internetsoccer.com, Peter Auf Der Heyde identified the names of many African sides. "J-D" was able to convince me that the Maple Leafs of Canada is in fact a valid nickname. "Alphayo" of Kenya dug up a few of the European names on a message board somewhere. The rest have been culled from my perusings of soccer news articles.
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