#TBT CLASSIC KITS: FRANCE 98-00

 

The Kit: FRANCE AWAY 1998-00

The World Cup 1998 was blessed with an array of amazing and unique football kits. The French kit worn during their run to the world title is now one of the most famous kits of all time. While the home strip will always be the most iconic we would like to pay homage to their equally beautiful away kit.

Brand: Adidas

Worn By: Didier Deschamps, Laurent Blanc, Zinedine Zidane, Emmanuel Petit, Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet

The Story:

The white away kit was worn only once during the 1998 World Cup in a quarterfinal matchup against the formidable Italians. At the time the French offense was not firing on all cylinders yet and had to fight Paraguay into extra time to win 1 nil in the round of 16. After a heated exchange, the match would finish scoreless after extra time neither the French or Italians capitalized on their opportunities sending the match to penalty kicks.

The pressure of the shoot out got the better of Italians once again after Luigi Di Baggio nailed his kick off the cross bar, sending the French to the semifinals. This victory was the wake-up needed and from this moment the side was unstoppable.

As always you can check out this and other amazing kits at classicfootballshirts.co.uk

 

#TBT CLASSIC KITS PARMA HOME 1998-99

The Kit: PARMA HOME 1998-99

Italy is known for having some of the most iconic club kits in world football and this week we are putting the spotlight on beautiful yellow and blue hoops of Parma.

Brand: Lotto

Sponsor: Parmalat

Worn By: Lilian Thuram, Fabio Cannavaro, Juan Sebastián Verón, Gianluigi Buffon, Enrico Chiesa, Hernán Crespo, and Dino Baggio

The Story:

In 1991, Parma was taken over by a global dairy and food corporation Parmalat. The improved finances allowed the club to quickly grow into a top contender in both domestic and European competitions. In this time the club would acquire a star studded cast of squad members and would launch the careers of Italian immortals Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon. Parma would go on to win eight trophies between 1992 and 2002. The 98/99 squad would go on to win the Copa Italia and the UEFA Cup with arguably the most powerful side ever assembled in the clubs history.

Unfortunately, this success would be short lived due to an embezzlement scandal involving Parmalat founder Calisto Tanzi. The corporation was left with a $20 Billion USD deficit and still remains Europe’s largest bankruptcy. The financial demise would cripple the club, forcing it into administration until 2007. In 2015 the club declared bankruptcy and would be re-founded in Serie D.

As always you can check out this and other amazing kits at classicfootballshirts.co.uk

 

 

 

#TBT CLASSIC KITS: MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM 98

Our first National Team #tbt Classic Kits feature and damn is it a good one. Today we look at one of the most iconic kits in the history of international soccer. The 90s were a time for often loud, sometimes hideous but always memorable jersey experimentation. In 98 Mexico’s ABA Sport strips tip-toed the line between all three. 

The kit: Mexican National Team 98 World Cup

Brand: ABA Sport

Sponsor: N/A

Worn by: Luis Hernandez, Cuahtemoc Blanco, Alberto Garcia Aspe, Pavel Pardo and Claudio Suarez

The Story: Sometimes a kit just remains etched in our psyche and becomes eternalyl synonymous with a team. The Mexican National Team’s 98 World Cup ABA Sport strip was that for so many people. The classic green, white and red was always a must, given the namesake for “El Tri.” Most notable kits featured a brilliant print straight from an Aztec calendar, the men dawning them played with the never say die spirit fitting of their ancestors. Players like Luis “El Matador” Hernandez, Cuahtemoc Blanco and the indomitable Claudio Suarez made Mexico a tenacious side in all competitions. In France 98 they’d qualify from a tough group featuring Holland, Belgium and South Korea. In the round of 16 they’d go up early against against the mighty Germans. Though they fought hard, El Tri would eventually succumb to two late goals courtesy of Jurgen Klinsman and Olvier Bierhoff. Mexico’s resolute performance was lauded from France to Mexico City and those kits forever a symbol of that endeavor. 

#TBT CLASSIC KITS: JUVENTUS 95/96

Another Thursday, another #TBT. This time we take a look at “The Old Lady.” Though synonymous with no-nonsense black and white strips, their away kits often flex a brash panache fitting of the clubs jaw-dropping stables. For this feature we take a look at the away kit dawned by one of Juve’s greatest sides ever, class of 95/96.

The kit: Juventus 95/96

Brand: Kappa

Sponsor: Sony

Worn by: Antonio Conte, Didier Deschamps, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Alasandro Del Piero and Gianluca Vialli

The Story: A team full of legends in their prime, the “Bianconeri” narrowly lost the Scudetto that year to a legendary Milan side. The eighties and early to mid nineties belonged to Italian soccer. Juventus would claw through a tough group, then go on to beat Spanish giants, Madrid in the quarters, then Nantes in the semis. Both times losing a game in each tie. In the final they’d claim the club’s 2nd Champions League title on penalty kicks to an Ajax side that boasted the likes of Edwin Van der Sar, Edgar Davids, both De Boer brothers and the mighty Patrick Kluivert. Juve’s royal blue strips were accented with giant yellow stars and that Sony branding which would remain synonymous with the club for years. A classic kit for a classic team and one that has stood the test of time.

Where to cop: Fresh, iconic and hard to come by, we recommend Vintagefootballshirts.com