On this day: Jermain Defoe hat-trick sinks Bulgaria

Here's a good quiz question: Who was the last player to score a hat-trick for England?

Theo Walcott's in Croatia sticks in the memory, as does Peter Crouch's trio of goals against Jamaica and Michael Owen's famous three-goal haul in Munich. It's none of those, though, and nor is it Wayne Rooney, who believe it or not has never scored a hat-trick for the Three Lions.

No, it is in fact Jermain Defoe, who netted three goals during a Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria at Wembley four years ago today.

After a disastrous World Cup campaign in South Africa and a slender 2-1 friendly victory over Hungary, there was hardly a plethora of optimism surrounding Fabio Capello's side. Yet, that would change against the Bulgarians, thanks in part to Defoe's clinical touch.

It would take the Tottenham Hotspur centre-forward just three minutes to break the deadlock when after visiting goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov had denied Ashley Cole, Defoe was on hand to lash the rebound into the roof of the net from six yards out.

From that moment onwards the Three Lions dominated the majority of the contest, but it wasn't until the 61st minute that Defoe was able to score his second of the night. This time Rooney was the provider as he slotted a pass through for the striker, who converted his chance through Mihaylov's legs.

Rooney then claimed a second assist in the 83rd minute when he picked out substitute Adam Johnson, who having worked the ball onto his stronger left foot, was able to drill his effort from the edge of the area inside the near post.

The night would ultimately belong to Defoe, though, as he rounded off his hat-trick three minutes from time. Again Rooney was the architect, sliding a pass into the channel for Defoe race on to, before he fired beyond the reach of Mihaylov to become the first England player to score three goals at Wembley since Alan Shearer against Luxembourg in 1999.

Speaking after the match, England head coach Capello said: "Defoe is always very important for us. He can shoot with his left foot and his right and his performance was really, really good and his movement without the ball was fantastic."

Meanwhile, Defoe added: "It's difficult to find the words to describe the feeling you get when you score a hat-trick for your country. It's just the best feeling in the world. It's the sweetest hat-trick of my career, without doubt and a special night."

ENGLAND: Hart; G Johnson, Jagielka, Dawson (Cahill), A Cole; Walcott (A Johnson), Gerrard, Barry, Milner; Defoe (Young), Rooney

BULGARIA: Mihailov; Ivanov, Milanov, Manolev (Minev), I Stoyanov; Yankov, Angelov, S Petrov, M Petrov; Bojinov (Rangelov), Popov (Peev)