France 2016 Home (Small)

Nike unveiled this France shirt in March 2016 specifically for a European Championship being played on French soil. The design used a bright cobalt-blue body with darker navy sleeves, while black side stripes opened during movement to reveal flashes of red subtly bringing all three colours of the French flag into the home kit. 

The most interesting detail was hidden inside. Nike placed a hexagon (the familiar geographical symbol of mainland France) inside the shirt, framed by the phrase “Nos Différences Nous Unissent.” The idea was explicitly tied to the diverse, multicultural make-up of the French national team. “France”, “Fierté” and “Bleu” were also worked into different parts of the garment. 

The shirt became the main home design of France’s run to the Euro 2016 final. Antoine Griezmann emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, while France knocked out Germany in the semi-final to reach a major final on home soil. The final itself ended painfully: Portugal won 1-0 in extra time through Éder. 

So although France did not lift the trophy, this shirt remains closely tied to that home tournament and unusually, some of its strongest symbolism was never meant to be seen from the outside.