THE VITALS:

Team: England

Brand: Umbro

Era: 1990-92 (Used for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the 1992 UEFA European Championships Qualifying Campaign, the 1992 UEFA European Championships and during the 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Campaign)

Name/Number: #19

CONDITION: VERY GOOD

This shirt comes to you in very good condition bearing little sign of wear barring some light staining.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Extra Small (XS)

Pit to Pit Measurement: 18.5 inches

Shirt Length: 27 inches 

As a remake, this shirt takes on a modern day fit; however, with the more dense materials used in the 90’s – this shirt is better suited to a size extra small given how tight it fits.

DESCRIPTION:

Umbro’s fourth home shirt they made for England ushered in the decade of the 90’s as they moved on from the deep v-neck collars used during the 80’s while the red accents were also dropped entirely from the home shirt for the first time since 1972. This shirt also incorporates a subtle grey hologram pattern embossed into the shirt whilst the navy collar and Umbro pattern around the band of the sleeves truly takes you back to the 90’s! This shirt would be mostly remembered for being used during England’s most memorable foray on the world stage since 1966 when they reached the semi-final of the World Cup in 1990 as well wins over Brazil, Denmark, Cameroon, while there was also the victory of the England Challenge Cup where England took on the Soviet Union and Argentina at the end of the 1990-91 season. This cycle would also be the international swansong for national legends: Peter Shilton, Terry Butcher, Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle, Gary Lineker, while Alan Shearer, Paul Merson, Martin Keown and David Batty all made their international debuts in the period between 1990-92.

THE SEASON(S):

England would end the decade of the 1980’s having made it to the World Cup in 1990 and with a with a victory in the final game of 1989 when they defeated (the former) Yugoslavia 2-1 in a friendly at Wembley Stadium.

Sir Bobby Robson’s troops united for the first time in the 90’s when they hosted Brazil at Wembley on 28^th March and they would put the world on notice when they beat the multi-time world-champions 1-0! Preparations for Italia ’90 continued in earnest as (the former) Czechoslovakia 4-2 and then Denmark 1-0; however, a defeat against Uruguay was followed by a draw against Tunisia which all of a sudden dampened the momentum which had been generated by those four successive wins.

England began their quest for a second World Cup title when they met the Republic of Ireland in Cagliari on 11^th June – however, it would be another winless affair as the two British Isle’s rivals battled to a 1-1 draw. A goalless draw against the Netherlands came next which left England needing a win over Egypt to ensure their place in the Last 16 of the tournament. Mark Wright’s goal would be enough to see England finish on top of their group with 4 points. England would need extra time to see off Belgium in Bologna on 26^th June to set up a quarter final with the tournament surprise package – Cameroon, led by the streaking Roger Milla.

Extra time was needed was once again Gary Lineker’s first goal’s of the tournament proved to be decisive as his two penalties guided ‘The Three Lions’ to the semi-final of the World Cup first time since 1966 – when they last won the competition! Standing in their way of a place in the final would be the runners up in both 1982 and 1986, and they nation they beat to win the World Cup in 1966 – Germany.

England’s clash with their oldest and most fiercest rivals would emanate from the Stadio delle Alpi in Turin in front of over 62,000 fans, and again extra time would be evoked before the dreaded penalty shoot-out was needed to determine one half of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final. The image of England’s heartbreak would be the lasting image of what was a legendary tournament for the national side, and not even a defeat to Italy to determine who finished in 3^rd place could dampen the welcome home for the national side from their Italian adventure.

Italia ’90 would prove to be Sir Bobby Robson’s last game in charge of the national team, while Terry Butcher and Peter Shilton retired from the national side. Graham Taylor was chosen by the FA to succeed Robson and he steered to England to a win and a draw against Poland and the Republic of Ireland respectively to end 1990 and kick off qualification for Euro 1992.

1991 began with another victory over Cameroon on 6^th February, before another third consecutive 1-1 draw unfolded against Ireland. England would see off Turkey 1-0 before hosting the England Challenge Cup where (the former) Soviet Union and Argentina were invited for a round-robin friendly tournament that saw England triumph following a win over Soviet Union and then a draw with the recently dethroned world champions – Argentina. England would then tour Asia in June and would beat Australia, New Zealand (twice) and Malaysia to conclude a fruitful foray half-way across the world.

Graham Taylor would suffer his first defeat in charge of the national side when Germany defeated England in a friendly on 11^th September. In spite of that defeat however, 1991 would end on a high-note as England sealed their place at Euro 1992.

The preparations for Euro ’92 began with a victory over France (whom they would be facing at Euro ’92) on 19^th February with Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker scoring in a 2-0 win. England would remain unbeaten in their remaining five friendlies – including a 1-1 draw with Brazil on 17^th May, before the tournament began on 11^th June against Denmark.

Denmark and England would play a goalless draw in Malmo before Malmö Idrottsplats hosted the England vs France clash on 14^th June. Another goalless draw would unfold meaning that England would need a victory over the hosts – Sweden to reach the semi-finals. David Platt would give England an early lead, however, Sweden would strike back to win 2-1 and knock England out the 1992 European Championships.

The fallout of the tournament would see Gary Lineker also retire from the international set up as England’s all-time leading goal-scorer, and the post-Lineker era would start on 9^th September in a friendly against Spain in Santander. Spain would inflict the third defeat of the Graham Taylor regime, however, 1992 would end with England securing a draw and a win as they sought to qualify for the World Cup in 1994 that was due to be held in the United States of America for the first time.

The notable players that season(s) were:

Steve Bull, Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer, Alan Smith, Nigel Clough, Trevor Steven, Steve Hodge, Paul Gascoigne, David Platt, Steve McMahon, John Barnes, Chris Waddle, Bryan Robson, Neil Webb, David Batty, Tony Daley, Paul Merson, Carlton Palmer, Andy Sinton, Tony Dorigo, Mark Wright, Des Walker, Martin Keown, Stuart Pearce, Keith Curle, Gary Stevens, Terry Butcher, Paul Parker, David Seaman, Peter Shilton, Chris Woods, Nigel Martyn