France 1996 Home Shirt – Authenticity Guide
The France 1996 Home Shirt is a popular collectible from a transitional era for the French national team. Known issues include confusion with the 1998 reissue (which features subtle differences in cut and fabric), missing inner sizing labels, and fading of the white chest band. Some replicas on the resale market also incorrectly use the later FFF crest with a single star, which was not present at the time. Be cautious of listings showing glossy material or heat-applied badges.
Shirt Overview
- Team: France
- Season: 1996
- Type: Home Shirt
- Manufacturer: adidas
- Main Colours: Blue with white and red detailing
- Sponsor: None (national team)
- Competition Use: Euro 1996
- Available Versions: Short sleeve only, player issue and fan replica
- Retail Release: 1996
Design Details
- Royal blue base with a thick white chest band bordered by thin red piping
- Classic fold-over white collar with a central blue stripe and button fastening
- Embroidered adidas trefoil logo on the right chest
- Embroidered FFF cockerel crest on the left chest—no stars above the badge during this era
- Subtle jacquard pattern woven into the shirt body
- Numbering (when applied) was centrally positioned below the adidas logo in a classic block style
- No name printing used in Euro 1996
Variants and Notes
- Player Issue Versions: Often used heavier flock numbers and may include inner structural taping for durability
- Reissues and Remakes: Adidas has released modern replicas of this design, typically using modern lightweight polyester and inner neck taping. Originals have older-style sewn-in tags and a boxier fit
- Youth Versions: Identical in design but sometimes include printed (not embroidered) elements
Final Notes
At Shirtchecker.com, our goal is to provide verified details and reference points to help collectors and fans identify genuine football shirts. The France 1996 Home Shirt is a classic of the pre-Zidane era, and this guide serves to document its key features for authenticity checking.
