Check out classic England and Argentina kits for sale at Shrewsbury retro shop ahead of World Cup showdown
Three Lions fans have been snapping up shirts, but there’s also something for Scottish supporters...
Football fans are gearing up for a tense evening tomorrow when England face old enemies Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
England shirts have been flying off the shelves at one Shrewsbury shop as Salopians prepare to, hopefully, roar the Three Lions onto victory and a place in Sunday’s final.
There is no love lost between the two nations, with Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in the 1986 finals, and David Beckham’s harsh red card in 1998 for a gentle kick out at Diego Simeone fuelling the rivalry on the field.
Despite that, Shaun Owen, boss of 12th Man Retro, believes there is still a local market for Argentina shirts.
“I’ve got probably about five or six in stock,” he said. “I’m expecting I’ll probably sell them all to Scotland fans!
“Obviously the most iconic one is the 1986 Hand of God kit. I really like the older Le Coq Sportif ones. I’d like to get one, but not this week!”
For rival fans out there who are hoping to see England’s demise, Shaun’s Argentina shirts with the famous light blue and white stripes are mainly from the 2000s era.
However, a wider variety of England shirts have been selling very well, as World Cup fever grips Shropshire football fans, who are hoping Thomas Tuchel’s men can finally end 60 years of hurt.
The first tournament Shaun watched was Italia 90, and even if Paul Gascoigne’s tears and Chris Waddle’s penalty being blasted into orbit evoke painful memories of another glorious failure, the kits were still pretty special.
“I quite like those kits,” he said. “We’ve managed to source quite a lot of them.”
One of the most unique jerseys Shaun has sold was a Tony Adams England shirt from 1994.
“That was for a tournament we didn’t even qualify for,” he said. “I got it from a museum in Milan. I didn’t sell it for much extra.”
The 1994 World Cup was also held in the United States but this time, unlike in 94, England have played a huge part.
And despite history being against the Three Lions, Shaun is full of confidence that this clash is going to go our way.
“I think we’ll hammer them,” he said. “It’ll be 3-1. I think we’ll be quite comfortable. I think Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are more than a match for Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, and the rest of our players are miles better than theirs.
“I think this is the first time we’ll be able to play how we want to play all tournament because the other team won’t be as defensive.”
While Shaun’s full focus will be on the semi-final, the Shrewsbury Town season ticket holder will be watching the final - hopefully featuring England - on the Isle of Man while he follows Salop on their pre-season tour.
As well as selling classic football jerseys at his shop in The Parade Shopping Centre, Shaun has also opened a new store in the town’s High Street called 12th Man Retro: More Than Football.
The new shop stocks classic rugby, cricket and American sports shirts and more.
To see what’s in stock, visit the12thmanretro.com/