[Smurfysmurf]

Here is a first picture of the special soccer smurfs Schleich will be releasing in May 2016

[The Smurf Collector]

These look like the ones that André displayed on his blog in 2014 around when the World Cup soccer was on in Brazil.

[Cassiebsg]

Aehhhummm... I thought they were "new Smurfs" when I read the topic... just repaints.

[TimeZero]

It must be an old picture, indeed "not final".
If these are going to represent the 32 soccer teams playing on the 2016 European Championship, there cannot be a green-yellow outfit-wearing Smurf, as none of the qualified teams bear these colours in their major outfit.
At this very moment, 8 teams still have to be qualified, so the production cannot have been started yet.

But, if these would go into production, I would surely buy them all. A budget of around 160€ would do, considering every Smurf costs at most 5€ x 32 = 160€.
Keep them in your closet for 30 years, and they'll be collector's items. The whole bunge for 1000€, sir.

[paolo]

Actually the '32 smurfs' refers to the number you get in a complete box, but that will be 4 complete sets made each of 8 different colours smurfs. So the teams that are going to be represented will be only 8.
I can safely bet on: Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, England, and the final 2 will be probably based on where Schleich sells are higher.

[TimeZero]

Oh yes, sure. That explains it better.
Wondered already if they would really produce 32 different pieces Guess it's too bad Holland didn't qualify then

[paolo]

I have a question: for them to be 'official new smurfs' they have to bear a new schleich number id, unless they will be just paint variations.
Does anyone know if the are going to be numbered? Last time the Holland and Belgium soccer smurfs did not have new numbers.

[Smurfysmurf]

four of them are on the schleich website with numbers

http://www.schleich-s.com/en/US/toys/the_smurfs/

[The Smurf Collector]

Mauren, Thanks for sharing this with us.

The four teams announced so far are: Germany, France, Italy and Spain. I wonder what the other four teams will be......

[Smurfysmurf]

I am really surprised that Belgium and Holland are not included yet. Holland is soccer and smurf crazy so I would have thought that's a given. I also kind of expect England to be included if they really release 8

[Simon X]

I am really surprised that Belgium and Holland are not included yet. Holland is soccer and smurf crazy so I would have thought that's a given.

There is a small problem with Holland...They are not qualified for the 2016 European Championship.

Apart from Germany, France, Italy and Spain, the following teams are qualified:

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, England, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Wales, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Ukraine.

Maybe we will just see four different ones?

[TimeZero]

Simon X, you are from Germany ? Typically...
Smurfs originates from Belgium, so a Belgian print will be always done and so it's rather dumb to say there will only be 4 outfits. I would be rather 8 than 4, so find some more countries that will be represented...

[Smurfysmurf]

So far, the 2016 Schleich catalog has only shown 4 different soccer smurfs for the European Championship

[Tojo]

I've noticed that too. It would be nice if there are some other kits as well though. I think we'll just have to wait & see. I'd like one in the Ireland kit

[The Smurf Collector]

I have finally received the four soccer Smurfs, which is very exciting.

Can anyone tell me why Schleich has used the number 10 on the back of the shirts. What is also interesting with the number 10 is that it is unpainted unlike the Playmaker version where the shirt was orange and the number 10 was painted yellow.

I would always like to think that there must be reason for selecting a number!

[Smurfysmurf]

I think the 10 is the playmaker of the team....feel free to correct me though because it's been years since I've watched a soccer game lol

It seems to be one of the Schleich mysteries why they only released four of them..especially since they originally had announced eigh

[Tojo]

Yes, that was very disappointing. Most annoying was that the German team sold out really quickly here so that I could only get the other 3. Prices for the German team on ebay are crazy so I'll just have to go without I suppose...

[hfos]

I got all four. The German one was especially expensive
I don't particularly like them. Then again, I don't like football, so that doesn't help.