England’s tournament wardrobe hits and misses: From white shellsuit tops at France 98 to Kevin Keegan’s basque beret…and don’t forget THOSE matching brown shoes and suitcases in 2002
England’s squad have made their way to Germany ahead of the Euro 2024 this upcoming weekend.
As fans at home have high hopes for a fruitful season of international football, Gareth Southgate‘s 26-man squad boarded their plane on Monday afternoon.
They emerged from the aircraft at the regional Erfurt-Welmar airport donning an all black casual attire.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane led in a comfortable black t-shirt with the team’s three lion symbol engraved on the front as fans cheered from the side-lines.
As the footballing squad gears up to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia this Sunday, MailOnline takes a look at how their off-pitch outfits have been hits and misses just like their tournaments over the decades.
1966 World Cup – England
England’s Nobby Stiles (left) and Roger Hunt (right), wearing their official England World Cup suits
1966 was a golden age in English football with the squad walking away with the FIFA World Cup football title.
England’s Geoff Hurst became the first ever player to bag a hat-trick at a FIFA World Cup final, with the squad walking away with a 4-2 against West Germany.
Not only was their performance stellar, so too was their sleek fashion whilst they were off the pitch.
England footballers Roger Hunt and Nobby Styles donned smartly cut suits tailored in Leeds.
The team didn’t only score points for style with their sleek suits – with accents of dark blue – they also walked away with an epic win for English football.
1982 World Cup – Bilbao, Spain
England football captain Kevin Keegan (left) sports a basque beret as he jokes with Trevor Brooking at the 1982 World Cup
The England squad of 1982 went in with high hopes, aiming to re-enact their 1966 Word Cup win.
Unfortunately, these dreams were dashed when they drew both of their group matches against Spain and Germany without scoring a single goal.
However, off the pitch their outfits weren’t as dreary as their World Cup performance.
Prior to their harsh exit after their disappointing performance, player Trevor Brooking sports a formal suit with a funky geometric tie reminiscent of 80s fashion.
His colleague and ex-Southampton player Kevin Keegan added his own twist to the traditional suit, sporting a dark-coloured beret.
1990 World Cup – Italy
The England squad pose in their double breasted suits on the steps prior to leaving for Italy for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
Although the squad kicked off to a promising start, the title was snatched away after they were defeated by West Germany in the semi-finals
The 1990 World Cup in Italy got off to a more positive start compared to previous years.
The stylish squad who wore light grey oversized suits coupled with maroon ties and bright red and white bags topped their group’s leader board.
Although their outfits may have been a knockout, their promising performance didn’t make it to the end of the competition.
The stylish group were within touching grasp of the illustrious title before they were defeated by West Germany in the semi-finals.
1998 World Cup – France
Paul Ince (left) and Ian Wright sporting white shell suit jackets and dark-navy tracksuit bottoms after returning from the 1998 World Cup in France
Paul Ince relaxing in the sun with a bottle of water whilst training for the 1998 World Cup, donning a vertically stripped, navy, white and red t-shirt
Although their fashion’s heading home may have been different the squad sported a united front in their heavily criticised taupe-coloured suits
The fashion heading into the 1998 World Cup Final was eclectic to say the least.
With a young Michael Owen breathing a fresh new lease of life into the team, hopes were high with the squad ranked fifth by FIFA leading into the tournament.
But it wasn’t only Owen who was adding a new flair to the squad, several members were steering into a more modern era of fashion.
Although the team the likes of Paul Ince and Ian Wright may have donned white shell suits and navy tracksuit bottoms off the pitch, the squad put on a united front heading in with taupe-coloured suits with navy shirts.
At the time their baggy-fit attire was heavily criticised, similarly to their demoralising loss against Argentina following David Beckham’s petulant red card.
EURO 2000 – Netherlands and Belgium
The grey suits coupled with lilac shirts were fairly plain in comparison to previous looks sported by the England squad and so too was their performance in the EURO 2000 (pictured left to right: Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Paul Ince)
The grey suits coupled with lilac shirts were fairly plain in comparison to previous looks sported by the England squad.
And so too was their UEFA Euro 2000 performance, as the team disappointingly didn’t even make it beyond the knockout stages with Portugal and Romania prevailing to the next rounds.
2002 World Cup – Japan/Korea
The England side received a warm welcome when they arrived in South Korea with flower garlands were placed around their necks (pictured: David Beckham and England manager Sven Goran Ericsson)
Although they wanted to maintain a united front both on and off the pitch with their matching shoes – and suitcases- their World Cup dreams wer brought to an abrupt end in Asia (pictured in 2002)
The England side received a warm welcome when they arrived in South Korea with flower garlands were placed around their necks.
During their trip to Asia, the side put on a united front both on and off the pitch donning not only matching suits but the brown suitcases and shoes to match.
However their stay in Asia was brought to an abrupt end at the quarter-final stage when 10-man Brazil bumped England out following a 2-1 win.
Rivaldo and Ronaldinho scored to cancel out Michael Owen’s stunning opener but the signs were there that England were on the cusp of a Golden Generation.
EURO 2004 QUALIFIERS – 2003 – Skopje, Macedonia
A young Wayne Rooney and David Beckham heading to the EURO qualifiers in Skopje, Macedonia
After a previously disappointing EURO performance, the English squad re-emerged revitalised.
With a promising young Wayne Rooney now on the squad the team rolled up to the EURO qualifiers in Skopje Macedonia meaning business.
They also looked the part too, donning fitted chic suits coupled with a light grey shirt and dark silk tie.
Whilst their efforts heading into the 2004 Euros was promising much like their fashion, their success was short-lived.
Although the squad emerged from the knockout stages with France, they were not able to beat out Portugal in order to head to the final stages.
2006 World Cup – Germany
England didn’t veer to far away from their 2003 off-pitch attire, proudly donning the formal jet-black suits with gleaming Three Lions badges.
Sporting white shirts and baby blue ties, the team remained stoic before they jetted off for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Their sporting performance – much like their fashion – was initially a hit as they came out triumphant against, Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago.
However the ‘Golden Generation’ fell short of fans high hopes after a frustrating loss as the team’s star Rooney was sent off the pitch, echoing Beckham’s petulance eight years before.
2010 World Cup – South Africa
The England squad wore grey bespoke tailored suits, designed by Timothy Everest in collaboration with Marks and Spencer (Pictured left to right: Theo Walcott, Emile Heskey, Matthew Upsom and Steven Gerrard)
Even Beckham – who was not playing for the squad due to injury at the time – wore similar colours whilst cheering them on from the side-lines
The 2010 FIFA World Cup saw a swarve sense of style among the squad, with every player donning illustrious grey bespoke tailored suits, designed by Timothy Everest in collaboration with Marks and Spencer.
Even Beckham – who was not playing for the squad due to injury at the time – wore similar colours whilst cheering them on from the side-lines.
His eye-catching grey two piece echoed his former-teammates current wear, firming a sense of unity among the team.
Although their fashion may have been a hit, their performance during this World Cup was an absolute miss.
They made it through the group stages by the skin behind the United States of America on goals scored.
Hopes among England fans for a FIFA trophy were quickly dashed as Germany battered them in the first knock-out round, concluding in a humbling four one loss.
2018 World Cup – Russia
Gareth Southgate’s squad turned up to the World 2018 World Cup in Russia with a united front, with every member wearing a sleek three piece navy suit
Just like their promising fashion, their performance in the brought back new highs for English football narrowly missing out on the final after losing to Croatia (pictured: Danny Welbeck and John Stone)
Southgate donning his famous waistcoat as he celebrates after a penalty shout out as England triumph over Colombia
With Gareth Southgate making his first debut – with his iconic waistcoat – in an international tournament as an England boss, the stakes were high.
Seemingly prepared and ready to hit the ground running, the squad donned a three piece navy suits with tri-coloured ties – made in collaboration with Marks and Spencer.
Just like their promising fashion, their performance in the brought back new highs for English football.
The whole nation was hopeful that Southgate and his team would finally bring football home.
Unfortunately – as the final was in sight – their World Cup dreams were destroyed as Croatia bagged a win in extra time.
2022 World Cup – Qatar
Ahead of their 2022 campaign in Qatar, Southgate’s squad took a more relaxed approach to their fashion however the laissez-faire approach still meant a loss against France
Ahead of their 2022 campaign in Qatar, Southgate’s squad took a more relaxed approach to their fashion.
Posing up a storm before the tournament kicked off, the squad posed in black casual jackets and flowing white t-shirts.
The shift was so dramatic – even Southgate’s waistcoat was absent.
However, the shift wasn’t enough to finally bring home a win for English football.
Although the squad got off to a promising start, it could be considered unlucky that their laissez-faire approach to fashion didn’t translate to an easy win against France.
