Football
PA Sport 8y

England set to face Australia in friendly as Euro 2016 preparations take shape

England will play Australia as one of three warmup games for Euro 2016, two of which will take place away from Wembley, Press Association Sport has reported.

The Football Association is finalising plans to take one friendly fixture to the North-East of England and another to the north-west at the request of manager Roy Hodgson, who wants to try and replicate the feel of a mini tournament.

Hodgson and his assistants, Ray Lewington and Gary Neville, have identified their preferred opponents for the May fixtures, with the Socceroos set to be joined by two European teams, one of which is likely to be Portugal.

Australia have been hand-picked as opponents because of their particular athletic and tactical characteristics.

The FA is expected to confirm all three opponents and venues later this month, but the final friendly before Euro 2016 is set to take place at Wembley.

England already have friendlies lined up against World Cup winners Germany in Berlin and against Netherlands at Wembley next month.

Their opening Euro 2016 fixture, against Russia in Marseille, takes place on June 11, the second day of the tournament.

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