This shirt was worn by France during their historic 1998 World Cup-winning campaign and remains one of the most sought-after pieces from that era. The away version is rarer than the home and was famously worn in the semi-final against Croatia.
1998 France Away Shirt – Authentication Guide
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Shirt Overview
- Team: France
- Season: 1998
- Type: Away
- Manufacturer: Adidas
- Primary Colour: White with red and blue trim
- Notable Match: France vs. Croatia (1998 World Cup Semi-final)
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Key Authentication Features
- FFF Crest: Fully embroidered gold cockerel over F.F.F. with a single star above (added after the World Cup win). Thread quality is high with tight embroidery.
- Adidas Logo: Navy blue stitched Adidas equipment logo (not printed).
- Front Design: Features a bold red-and-blue horizontal band with two wavy red lines beneath—sublimated into the fabric.
- Tricolor Tab: Authentic shirts include a small French flag tab stitched into the side seam.
- Back Detail: Number box patch on the lower back (for match-issued versions only).
- Inner Label: Size tag with flags including France, UK, Germany, and Italy. Some include a CON code at the bottom.
- Authenticity Patch: Bottom front features a stitched FFF official garment patch with number ID (for licensed replicas).
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Player Info
France 1998 World Cup Winning Squad
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Fabien Barthez | Goalkeeper |
| Bernard Lama | Goalkeeper |
| Lionel Charbonnier | Goalkeeper |
| Marcel Desailly | Defender |
| Lilian Thuram | Defender |
| Bixente Lizarazu | Defender |
| Laurent Blanc | Defender |
| Frank Leboeuf | Defender |
| Vincent Candela | Defender |
| Didier Deschamps | Midfielder |
| Emmanuel Petit | Midfielder |
| Christian Karembeu | Midfielder |
| Youri Djorkaeff | Midfielder |
| Patrick Vieira | Midfielder |
| Zinedine Zidane | Midfielder |
| Alain Boghossian | Midfielder |
| Robert Pirès | Midfielder |
| Stéphane Guivarc’h | Forward |
| Thierry Henry | Forward |
| David Trezeguet | Forward |
| Christophe Dugarry | Forward |
| Coach: Aimé Jacquet |
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Season Summary
France went on to win the 1998 World Cup on home soil, defeating Brazil 3–0 in the final. The away shirt was only used in a few games, including the iconic 2–1 win over Croatia in the semi-final, where Lilian Thuram scored twice.
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Final Notes
Common fake indicators include a missing flag tab, poor quality crest embroidery, or printed Adidas logos. The red wave graphics must be dye-sublimated and crisp. Shirts lacking an inner FFF authenticity patch or with mesh material may be later reproductions.
This post helps collectors verify a genuine 1998 France away shirt, a landmark piece from one of the most iconic tournaments in football history.
