England announce friendlies against European giants

Not content with breezing through qualification to the 2016 European Championships, England will
take on Europe’s elite in upcoming friendly matches.


On Wednesday the English FA announced that friendlies against France and Germany will take place next season, while they are also in talks with Spain and the Netherlands about a further two friendlies to help the team prepare for EURO 2016 in France.

Roy Hodgson’s men have won six games on the spin since their disappointing exit at the group stage of the 2014 World Cup this summer, and will look to test themselves against some of Europe’s best.

Subject to qualification for the European Championships, which seems all but secured already as England top Group E and are six points clear of second-placed Slovenia with six games left, they face France at Wembley on Nov. 17 2015 and will then travel to Germany to play the reigning World Champions in March 2016. Following that match the Three Lions will hope to prepare for EURO 2016 by facing reigning European Champions Spain and World Cup semifinalists Holland as talks between the federations are still ongoing.

These matches will hand Hodgson’s young side a supreme test as they continue to gel and grow as a group following their disappointing performance in Brazil. After these friendlies we will likely know how strong the Three Lions are and how far they have to go to get back among Europe’s elite soccer nations.

Who said international friendlies are boring? These matches between huge rivals from the continent will be anything but that.