colors

ボスニア・ヘルツェゴビナのサッカー選手Hasan Salihamidzicはブンデスリーガで輝かしい功績を残しましたが，代表レベルではまだ偉業を成し遂げていません。
Unfulfilled hopes in national colours
The 35-year-old has basically achieved all there is to achieve at club level, but his career for Bosnia-Herzegovina yielded little by way of success. He won a first senior cap way back in 1996 when he was just 19, but after scoring six goals in 43 appearances, he chose to retire from the national team in 2006. “It's definitely a shame we never appeared at a major tournament," the midfielder reflected, an unmistakable tinge of regret in his voice as he contemplated what might have been in a national shirt.
However, even without the tireless midfield workhorse, the nation holding a creditable 21st position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking have yet to grace a FIFA World Cup™ or UEFA EURO. The current Bosnian crop, blessed with proven talent in the shape of Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and Zvjezdan Misimovic, have stumbled at the play-off stage twice in a row. “I’d really like the current generation to take part in a major tournament very soon,” Brazzo stated.
The Bosnians missed out on UEFA EURO 2012, so it seems unlikely that Salihamidzic will witness this event during his own playing career. He is only contracted to Wolfsburg until the summer. What happens next? All he can do is repeat the answer he gave at the start of our conversation: “I’m always good for a surprise."
On the other hand, the player has firm plans for the time after hanging up his boots. “After I stop playing, the thing I want to do most is look after my family, and enjoy time with my wife and kids," he smiled. After almost 20 years at the top, it is a pleasure he has surely earned – although the time may not quite be right just yet.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1602987.html
colorsは「本性，立場」の意味があり，in national coloursで「代表において」となります。colorには他にも「（代表選手が着る）チームカラーの服」や「シンボルカラー」という意味があり，これらも掛けられていることがわかります（『オーレックス英和辞典』旺文社）。ちなみに以前扱われていたshow one’s true colorsのcolorsも「本性」という意味ですね。（Sugiuchi）