My favourite shirt – Andy Townsend  -Republic of Ireland: At the 1994 World Cup, I captained the side as we walked out at Giants Stadium against Italy (but only after a rapid kit change)

• Townsend captained the Republic of Ireland in their 1994 World Cup campaign
• Ireland progressed to the knockout stages after a famous 1-0 win against Italy 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off! 

I’ve been lucky enough to wear an Ireland shirt for lots of big moments but being captain, walking out for the first game of the tournament against Italy in such an atmosphere… there were so many Ireland fans at Giants Stadium that day. 

We got to the ground three and a half hours before kick-off for World Cup matches, plenty of time. So we get changed and we’re in the tunnel wearing white shirt, green shorts, white socks. 

I was standing next to Franco Baresi, who’s got on a white shirt, blue shorts and white socks. He looks at me like, ‘No, no, no you’ve got the wrong kit on!’ — and we’re just about to walk out. 

So we had to fly back into the dressing room for the quickest kit change in history. We came back out in green, white, green and beat Italy 1-0. 

Ex-Ireland skipper Andy Townsend picked their 1994 World Cup strip as his favourite ever shirt in football

Ireland claimed a famous win against Italy in the opening game which helped them progress

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