Football Shirt World

Tunisia – Away – 1994

Now here’s a rare shirt, worn by Tunisia’s Imed Mizouri at the 1994 Rothmans international tournament in Malta. The Rothmans International Tournament is a biannual cup organised by the Malta FA featuring a mix of (mainy) international teams, mainly minor UEFA members such as Moldova, Iceland and Estonia. The likes of Russia, Algeria, Tunisia, Denmark and South Korea have previously taken part as well as the Est german Olympic team, FC Kaiserslautern and Hammarby IF.

I’ve not been able to find any match photos from the 1994 Rothmans International tournament, but a video of the Malta goal from their 1-1 draw with Tunisia is available on Youtube.

New Zealand – Away – 2016

First seen in a World Cup qualifier against New Caledonia on 15/11/16. It was used the following year in friendlies against Fiji, Northern Ireland and Cabinteely. It made an appearance against Mexico at the 2017 Confederations Cup, and in the away leg of the World Cup PLay-off defeat to Peru, before making its final appearance in a friendly defeat to Canada (24/03/18).
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Paraguay – Away – 1997

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RCS – Home – 1993

An incredibly rare national shirt worn by the Respresentation of Czechs and Slovaks after the break up of Czechoslovakia in 1993. The Czechoslovakia team had already begin their qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, and continued to compete as a united team under the RCS name. They played just 7 games together before spilling into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic reached the final of the 1996 European Championship in their maiden tournament.

As far as I can see their design was only used once, in the 1-1 draw away to Cyprus. They wore the red version vs Romania, and a blue version of the famous Arsenal ‘banana’ kit away to Belgium and in both matches vs Wales, an all red at home to Cyprus. I have no idea what they wore in the match against the Faroe Islands.

Yugoslavia – Away – 2002

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Faroe Islands – Away – 2014

A boring Adidas template, but used in the Faroe Island’s most famous match as they beat Greece who were placed 169 places above them in the rankings.

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India – Away – 2008

USA – Home – 1994

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New Zealand – Home – 2012

One of my favourite All Whites shirts, but worn during a poor OFC Cup campaign that saw New Zealand draw with Solomon Islands and lose to New Caledonia. In the 3rd-place Play Off the All Whites surrendered a 29 minute 3-0 lead before finally winning 4-3 thanks to an injury time goal from star striker Chris Woods.

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New Zealand – Away – 2010

In 2010 New Zealand qualified for only their second Word Cup following a Play-Off win over Bahrain. Incredibly New Zealand remain the only team not to lose a match at the World Cup finals after they exited at the group stage drawing with Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay. This means Fiji have the remarkable feat of being the only side to beat New Zealand in their World Cup journey.

There was in fact only one team who went unbeaten for their World Cup 2010 campaign, and that was the British Virgin Islands who drew both their games in the first round of qualifying against The Bahamas, but went out on away goals. Both legs were actually played in the Bahamas, so it was bad luck that the designated ‘home’ match was higher scoring. To be fair The Bahamas got hammered 13-0 by Jamaica in the next round.
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