No matter whether France or Italy wins, members of the two teams will peel off their jerseys when Sunday's World Cup final is over.

Just as they've done after every Cup game, players literally will take the shirts off their backs and give them away to their opponents. It's a soccer mainstay, soaked in sweat and tradition. This was written by Debbie Arrington appeared in The Sacramento Bee

Almost as old as the 76-year-old World Cup itself, the jersey exchange represents the friendly nature of athletic competition between nations. Unsure of the first shirt-swapping game, Cup officials say the tradition dates back to the event's rebirth after World War II and has been a part of international matches ever since.

As the Times of London said, "There is no more honorable end to a sporting contest than for one man to swaddle himself in nylon damp and pungent with another's sweat."

Or soggy polyester, the fabric of most Cup uniforms. Adidas, maker of jerseys for six teams including Cup finalist France, doesn't mind.

The company has sold more than $1.5 billion worth of World Cup merchandise including a record 3 million replica jerseys -- 1.5 million just for host Germany.

That compares to 1.3 million total and 250,000 German jerseys for the 2002 Cup held in South Korea and Japan. The company expects to sell about 500,000 French jerseys.

By comparison, the NFL sold 85,000 Super Bowl XL caps, shirts and jerseys.

"More so than any prior World Cup, fans want to wear their country's jersey, whether they're at the game or at a party or sitting at home watching TV," Adidas spokesman Evan Wiener said.

As outfitters of Les Bleus, Adidas has a stake in the outcome.

"It would be a big win for the brand if the French succeed," said Wiener, noting his company has sold more than 50,000 French replica jerseys in France this week. "Just being in the final is great. It's made a huge impact."

At $65 to $80 apiece, the jerseys have been hot sellers in Sacramento. Kombat Soccer in South Land Park has sold more than 200 replica jerseys during the monthlong Cup. This week, Puma's bright blue jersey for Italy's Azzurri has become very popular, said co-owner Maya Kitt.

"Italy is a really, really big seller, much more than France," Kitt said. "People want them because they eliminated the U.S."

Nike, which outfitted eight teams, had local favorites in the United States, Mexico and Portugal.

"We've sold out of Portugal," said Kitt, noting Sacramento's large Portuguese population. "People are still calling us for Portugal, but the manufacturer has sold out, too."

With Italy, Puma -- which supplied jerseys for 12 teams -- makes its World Cup finals debut.

That company reported a 40 percent leap in soccer-related sales over last year.

For the players, it's a special commemoration of a moment. Jersey trading isn't mandatory; it's personal. It's up to the individuals whether to swap.

"There really is no protocol to this process," explained U.S. striker Brian Ching, a former San Jose Earthquake, in his Cup diary for the San Jose Mercury-News. "If you want to trade a jersey, you just go up to the player and ask if they would be willing to trade with you. Most of the time players are willing to trade, but there are instances in which a player does not want to give up his jersey."

Or more than one player wants to trade with the same opponent. That happened after the U.S.-Italy match in this Cup. Two Americans asked Italy's Alessandro del Piero for his jersey; he gave it to the one who asked first.

"For most, I am sure they are collected to serve as memories for years to come," Ching added, "each representing a moment in one's soccer career, which can be shared with family and friends forever."

For non-players, game-worn jerseys are extremely hard to come by. That drives up auction prices when they are sold. Brazilian legend Pelé's 1970 World Cup final shirt sold for $292,000 last month.

Currently on eBay, bidding for World Cup jerseys from Argentina, France and Australia topped $600 apiece.

World Cup organizer FIFA tried to ban the practice at the start of the 1986 Cup because it didn't want bare-chested men on the field. Players are now encouraged to exchange jerseys in the stadium tunnels, out of view.

But on-field jersey exchanges produce poignant moments, like the one after France defeated Portugal in the semis. Former Real Madrid teammates Luis Figo of Portugal and French star Zinedine Zidane -- who have both announced their retirements after this Cup -- traded jerseys for most likely the last time.

Star-struck opponents have knocked on opposing teams' locker room doors. That includes superstars.

In 2002, England's David Beckham traded his shirt twice after Brazil eliminated the Brits in the quarterfinals. Bearing a fresh shirt, Beckham visited the Brazilian locker room after the game and asked to swap with Ronaldo, who agreed. But Beckham already had traded his game-worn jersey on the field with Brazil defender Roberto Carlos, raising some eyebrows.

Beckham had two to trade. Most countries provide its players with two jerseys for international matches -- a clean one for each half.

As sports traditions go, jersey swapping may seem weird to Americans, but it conveys FIFA's slogan of "fair play" and friendly matches, Wiener said. "It's a way to say thanks for some good competition." This was written by Debbie Arrington appeared in The Sacramento Bee