England will play 1,000th int'l football match today

FE Sports Desk

England will be the first nation to complete 1,000 international football matches today (Thursday) when they look to seal qualification to next year's European Championship.

Incidentally, the Three Lions, who played in the first fixture against Scotland in 1872, will play one of world football's newest nations, Montenegro, who will be playing in their 97th match.

The English Football Association will mark the occasion by inviting World Cup winners, former captains and most capped players to Wembley. England will also adopt a legacy player numbering system, like Test cricket, for its current crop of footballers.

Take a look back at some of the Three Lions' most memorable moments of the past 147 years.

For all the tears, turmoil and triumphs in England's first 999 games, it is trophies - or a lack of them - that have shaped the Three Lions' story so far.

But despite the national team having won only one World Cup since their first match in 1872, they have actually collected another 60 titles along the way.

As well as the glory and the goals - 3,172 in total, at both ends - there has been plenty of gloom too of course - and not just the fog that caused a game versus Czechoslovakia to be abandoned in 1975, one of only three England matches that have failed to finish.

England's first match, the first ever football match

The match between England and Scotland was the first ever association football official international match to be played. The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent at Partick in Scotland. The match finished in a 0-0 draw and was watched by 4,000 spectators.

The story of defeats

In 1878, Scotland thrashed England 7-2 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, a record defeat that would stand for 77 years between the two nations until England beat the Scots 7-2 in 1955.

Sing when winning

England's record win came in 1882 when they trounced Ireland 13-0 in a friendly.

England's most common result is 1-1 draw

England's most common result is a 1-1 draw - they have had 102 of those - but they have won 568 of their 999 games so far, against 91 different opponents.

England suffer when it matters most

In 1966, England have won football's World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1930. It was their maiden world cup win. In the final moments of extra-time Geoff Hurst powered England his third goal to give them a 4-2 victory against West Germany.