Croatia 1998 Home X Šuker — France 98 Golden Boot

The country was seven years old. The football team had already reached a World Cup semi-final.

Croatia's story at France '98 is one of football's most extraordinary. A newly independent nation, playing in only its second major tournament, arrived in France as unknowns and left as heroes. They beat Jamaica and Japan in the group. They took Romania apart in the last sixteen. Then, in the quarter-finals against Germany at the Stade de Gerland, they did what no one thought possible.

Germany 0, Croatia 3.

Robert Prosinečki cutting inside from the left. Davor Šuker slotting home. Goran Vlaović putting the third away in the closing minutes. Three-nil against the three-time world champions. The German coach walked off the pitch shaking his head. Zvonimir Boban lifted the shirt to the Croatian fans behind the goal, tears streaming down his face.

They lost the semi-final to France 2-1 — Lilian Thuram scoring the only two international goals of his career on the biggest stage. But they beat the Netherlands in the third-place playoff, and Davor Šuker went home with the Golden Boot: six goals, top scorer of the tournament, and legend status secured forever.

The shirt is one of football's most instantly recognisable. The famous red and white checkerboard — šahovnica — running across the entire front in bold squares. Blue shorts. It's the flag on a football shirt, and it works because Croatia does nothing by halves. This is a nation's identity stitched into fabric.

Davor Šuker wore the number 9 that summer and finished as the tournament's leading scorer. He turned every long ball into a chance, every half-chance into a goal. The '98 shirt is his shirt.

This is that shirt. A faithful retro tribute to the Golden Era of football, curated by The Retro XI for those who understand what it represents.

⚽ FREE PERSONALISATION — At The Retro XI, the back of the shirt is the canvas — your name, your number, your place in the lineup. Every shirt comes with free professional name and number printing. Choose your own at checkout.

📏 SIZING — Slim fit. Order one size up from your usual UK size.
S (36") · M (38") · L (40") · XL (42") · XXL (44") · See size chart.

🚚 SHIPPING — Free worldwide shipping. Dispatched within 3 business days.
Europe & USA: 10-14 days · Rest of World: 15-21 days.

↩️ RETURNS — 7 days from delivery for unworn shirts. 
Personalised shirts cannot be returned unless faulty.

The Retro XI / The Golden Era of Football