England's 10 Worst Kits

Thanks to a directive from FIFA, England will wear an all-white kit at this summer's World Cup, abandoning the traditional blue shorts. Per the Huffington Post, football's governing body would prefer teams to wear one colour for easier visibility on high definition television. 

While some prototypes have leaked, the strip the Three Lions will be wearing has not yet been revealed.

In any case, the one-colour policy is sure to upset traditionalists—even if England have done it several times at major tournaments before. 

In tribute to the forthcoming kit, here are some of the less aesthetically appealing strips worn by the national team over the years. 

1996 Away

LYNNE SLADKY/Associated Press

England wore this grey away kit three times in 1996, and it will forever be remembered for the penalty shootout heartbreak of Euro 96. 

Also, it's virtually the same colour as the doomed Manchester United shirt that Sir Alex Ferguson claimed was "invisible."

1996 Away Goalkeeper

Simon Bruty/Getty Images

England's grey (or "indigo blue") away strip at Euro 96 was complemented by the monstrosity that David Seaman was forced to wear. 

There was no chance of losing him in the dark wearing that. 

1996 Home Goalkeeper

Graham Chadwick/Getty Images

The home goalkeeper shirt at Euro 96 was also fairly unpleasant to look at.

It looked like Seaman and Tim Flowers had wrapped themselves in the bedspread from a cheap motel.

2013 Home

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Nike's first England kit debuted in May 2013 in a match against the Republic of Ireland. The minimalist design received plenty of criticism because the round neck and very dark blue trim made it look like a Germany shirt.

It looked so much like a Nationalmannschaft shirt, in fact, that they accused England of copying them. 

1990-92 Home

ROBERTO PFEIL/Associated Press

At Italia 90, England wore a strip covered in rhombus patterns that gave it the appearance of a table cloth.

The look of the shirt wasn't as much of a problem as the feel—the shiny nylon fabric left the nation in a near-constant state of itchiness.

2005-06 Home

MARTIN MEISSNER/Associated Press

England enjoyed a 78 percent success rate in the kit they wore for 20 games in 2005 and 2006, but the St George's flag detail on the right shoulder was a bit naff.

1992 Away

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

One of England's most outlandish strips arrived in 1992, when a light blue hue was adorned with three huge lions. It was very '90s and only appeared in two games. 

2001-02 Home

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

England had an all-white option between February 2001 and October 2002. 

The national team only lost twice in 17 appearances in this strip, per England Football Online, and it was worn in the famous 5-1 victory over Germany and the dramatic 2-2 draw with Greece at Old Trafford. 

It wasn't that nice to look at, though. 

2012-13 Home

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

England's most recent Umbro shirt featured some nice red detailing, but it had an odd tiny collar.

Also, it was made from 80 percent polyester and was very thick, making it pretty heavy when wet.

1991 Away

Umbro produced a blue rhombus-covered away shirt for Italia 90, but it was only ever worn for a single game, a European Championship qualifier against Turkey the following year.

Take a closer look at it here. Then try to forget about it. 

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