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Published 21 August 2024 4 min read
England Teams

Remembering 10 iconic England men's kits

Written by:

Adam Drury

From the 1996 World Cup-winning red strip to the all-grey EURO 1996 number, we look back at a selection of memorable Three Lions shirts

The rich history of the England men's senior team has included some memorable kits.

From the all-red World Cup-winning 1966 shirt, to the grey EURO 1996 away strip, through to back-to-back European Championship final numbers, we look back at some of the best.

1966 World Cup final

Perhaps the most loved kit in England history, for obvious reasons, this simple number lasts the test of time.

The iconic image of Bobby Moore holding the Jules Rimet trophy aloft is a reminder of England's only senior World Cup triumph.

1982 World Cup

Trevor Francis on the ball at the 1982 World Cup
Trevor Francis on the ball at the 1982 World Cup

Bryan Robson scored England's fastest ever World Cup goal in the red equivalent to this shirt but it is the white version that has become a retro hit.

The Three Lions were eventually knocked out of the tournament in the second group stage despite not losing a game throughout the event.

1990 World Cup

Paul Gascoigne at the 1990 World Cup
Paul Gascoigne at the 1990 World Cup

The 1990 World Cup in Italy saw England's first penalty shoot-out defeat but only after Bobby's Robson's side had made some famous memories along the way.

The Three Lions beat Belgium and Cameroon in dramatic knock-out matches before missing out against Germany in the semi-final spot-kicks.

EURO 1996 away

England line up to face Germany at EURO 1996
England line up to face Germany at EURO 1996

This is another of the most popular England kits of the past, despite the team only wearing it at a tournament for the devastating Euro 1996 semi-final defeat to Germany.

Terry Venables' side missed out on a place in the final in front of a raucous Wembley crowd after Gareth Southgate's sudden-death shoot-out miss – a moment he would use to inspire the team's improvement from 12 yards during his time as manager.

1998 World Cup

Alan Shearer scores against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup
Alan Shearer scores against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup

England's star-studded squad took on the 1998 World Cup in France in this memorable shirt.

Shoot-out defeat to Argentina in the last 16 was tough to take but the kit remains one of the most popular of recent times.

2002 World Cup

David Beckham in action in Japan and South Korea in 2002
David Beckham in action in Japan and South Korea in 2002

The red stripe down the left-hand side marks this strip out, with it arguably being most memorable for David Beckham's famous last-minute free-kick against Greece that took the Three Lions to the 2002 World Cup.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side progressed to the last eight in Japan and South Korea, losing to eventual champions Brazil in the quarter-finals while donning this shirt.

EURO 2004

Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney celebrate together in 2004
Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney celebrate together in 2004

It was another quarter-final exit for Eriksson's team in Portugal in 2004, losing out to the hosts on penalties.

This was still a popular shirt, though, remembered best as the one Wayne Rooney wore as he made his dramatic international breakthrough.

2018 World Cup

Harry Maguire in possession against Panama at the 2018 World Cup
Harry Maguire in possession against Panama at the 2018 World Cup

England reached their first men's World Cup semi-final for 28 years in 2018 as Southgate allowed the country to dream in Russia.

This design will remind supporters of a memorable summer, which included a 6-1 win over Panama and a first shoot-out victory for 22 years against Colombia in the red alternative strip.

EURO 2020

Harry Kane celebrates his goal against Germany at EURO 2020
Harry Kane celebrates his goal against Germany at EURO 2020

The Three Lions went one further in their next major tournament, reaching the final of EURO 2020 at Wembley before agonisingly falling short of the trophy against Italy.

Arguably this shirt's most famous victories were over Germany and Denmark at the home of football during that tournament.

EURO 2024

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane at EURO 2024
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane at EURO 2024

Southgate led his side to back-to-back EURO finals in Germany in the summer of 2024, with the Three Lions making more memories in this kit.

Jude Bellingham's overhead kick against Slovakia will go down in folklore, as will Ollie Watkins' dramatic semi-final winner against the Netherlands.

Browse the most memorable retro England shirts and purchase your favourite by visiting the England Store.

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