We’re bang in the mood for the World Cup this week, with some massive fixtures coming up as the semi-finals draw closer. With that in mind, we thought we’d look at each national team and the shirts our collectors have in their own national team vaults.
Up first, the tournament favourites, Les Bleus. Here are five incredible France shirts on Showboat that we very much wish were in our collections. Enjoy!
5. France - 2014/15 - Home Shirt
This is a lovely number from a nation who consistently dress their lads up rather than down. This match-issued Lucas Digne shirt from 2014 likely wasn't from the World Cup that year, (that patch doesn't appear to have been used during the tournament) but it would still make a nice addition to most collections. Our team have valued this at £180 all in.
4. France - 1998 - Away Shirt
While France are synonymous with blue, they’re breathtaking in white. Their run of away shirts in the 1990s might be up there with any country ever. That’s how good they were. We’ve plumped for this one in our top five this week, and it more than warrants its place. Entwined with the great Zinedine Zidane and France’s 1998 World Cup win, this deserves a home in every collector’s wardrobe. Our team value this at around the £200 mark.
3. France - 1994/96 - Home Shirt
What makes shirt collecting so great is that shirts associated with failure can become just as iconic as those attached to success. Admittedly, this was worn by the likes of Zidane, Cantona, Blanc and Desailly, so we’re not talking Andorra levels of failure, but rather gross underachievement. This shirt deserved to be worn at a major international competition but sadly wasn’t, after France failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. It’s become one of those rare shirts that looks equally good with a pair of jeans as it does with a pair of shorts. For that reason alone, it is deserving of its £150 valuation.
2. France - 1992/94 - Home Shirt
This is a shirt that goes to show not all great shirts need to be connected to a winning moment. For some, this era represented a low point for France, who dropped out of the Euro ’92 group stages. For most, worse was still to come when France failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. But there is no denying the beauty of the shirt itself.
It’s not an uncommon design from the early ’90s and one Adidas used for several international teams. But the blue, red and white, offset by the golden Gallic rooster, are an undeniable colour combination. This shirt features an Eric Cantona nameset, along with the number 18, giving it a wistful air. Greatness alongside an element of unfulfilled potential. Worth approximately £250.
1. France - 1982/83 - Home Shirt
Now, this is not a shirt you see every day: a match-worn Jean Tigana shirt from 1982. There were frustratingly no collector’s notes with it, so we are left to assume it is from the 1982 World Cup. Tigana, at that point, was unquestionably one of the best midfielders in the world and key to France’s fourth-placed finish at the tournament.
The colours have faded in the 40-plus years since, but this shirt still contains undeniable magic. A jewel in the crown of one Showboat collector’s collection. Valued at £950.
You can shop classic football shirts from our handpicked, verified sellers on the Showboat marketplace here.
