01 July 2007

Early Days - Player Spotting White Coloured Boots

The question is who was the first to wear the colourway that would subsequently change the fashion in football boots?

In the 1996 FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Liverpool, John Barnes was wearing white boots of a brand that I did not recognize. In that game Cantona scored a volley in the 85th minute that seal his comeback in that very season. During the prematch ceremony, the Liverpool lads turn up at the old Wembley in White designer suits so shocking that back then the press called them as the "Spice Boys". Before that match also, John Barnes's 'Anfield Rap' shot to #3 in the U.K. music chart. Salute!

During the 2000 European Championships in Holland and Belgium, Alfonso of Spain was spotted as the only players who wore the infamous white boots. The crafty and incisive centre-forward who had played often for Spain, been cast aside by Real Madrid, and flourished with Betis Seville. In the game against Yugoslavia he scored 2 goals in what would have been the match of the tournament when Spain emerge the winner in a 4-3 thriller. He scored the decisive winner. Among the 22 players i think it is easier to spot Alfonso in the middle of the field with his white boots.

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