The England badge has featured the iconic three lions emblem for as long as we can remember.
From England's long-sleeved red shirt in 1966 -- which epitomised success as they went on to lift the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley -- to their famous jacquard sky-blue 1990 jersey, the three lions have always been present at the heart of an England crest.
But why do England have three lions on their badge and when was the emblem first introduced? Read on as we delve into the history of the symbol.
Why does the England team have three lions on their badge?
The lion has been associated with the Royal Family since Henry I -- who reigned between 1100-1135 -- included a single lion in his coat of arms, subsequently adding another after his marriage.
His grandson, Henry II -- who reigned between 1154-1189 -- also added a lion to the crest after getting married.
After the reign of Henry II's son, Richard I, the three lions were popularised and embraced as the royal arms by every monarch.
As for it's use as the England football emblem, the national team have worn the badge since their international match against Scotland in 1872 -- 154 years ago.
The release of David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and The Lightning Seeds' 'Three Lions' song in 1996 -- which highlights the pain of frequent tournament heartbeat and the hope that they will win again -- added to the pride concerning the nation's legendary crest.
