England set up pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Germany and France - 7M sport

England set up pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Germany and France



Posted Thursday, November 20, 2014 by skysports.com

England set up pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Germany and France
England: Will face France at Wembley in November 2015, and Germany away in March 2016

England will play high-profile friendlies against France and world champions Germany in the build-up to the 2016 European Championships.

France will travel to Wembley for a match on November 17 next year, while England will travel to Germany to take on the world's top-ranked team in March 2016.

The Football Association confirmed negotiations are also under way regarding additional friendlies against the Netherlands, who reached the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, and reigning European champions Spain.

Roy Hodgson's side have won all four of their qualifying matches in Group E so far, with matches against minnows like San Marino and Estonia doing little to prepare England for the expected task of taking on Europe's elite in France.

The FA has already announced fixtures against Italy for March next year and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on June 7.

Encouraging

"It's very encouraging that our search for opposition in the international weeks has led to quality teams such as France, Spain and Germany - with Italy and the Republic of Ireland already announced for 2015," said England manager Hodgson.

"They will complement the important Euro qualifiers which remain the top priority and we are taking nothing for granted. However, these six potential fixtures will provide the type of test we're looking for going forward."

The France friendly is dependent on England - who are already six points clear at the top of Group E - not being involved in a Euro 2016 play-off.

Former England midfielder Robert Lee said the newly-announced friendlies would be invaluable preparation for Hodgson's players given the relative ease with which they have negotiated a straightforward qualifying group.

"I'll be amazed if England don't win that group comfortably so this gives them the chance to test themselves against some of the top teams in the world," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"If we can keep the expectations down this time who knows what England can do. We've got some exciting young players coming through with pace and that is a positive for the future."



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