England confirm friendlies with Turkey, Australia and Portugal

By Jefferson Lake

England will face Turkey, Australia and Portugal in the build up to Euro 2016

England will play friendlies against Turkey, Australia and Portugal in the final stages of their preparations for Euro 2016.

The national side will take on Turkey at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium on May 22 before playing Australia at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on May 27 and then wrapping up their warm-up campaign against Portugal at Wembley on June 2.

The confirmation of those games takes the number of pre-tournament fixtures for Roy Hodgson's side to five, with games against Germany, in Berlin on March 26, and the Netherlands, at Wembley on March 29, preceding them.

The May fixtures represent the first time England have played a home international away from Wembley since 2007.

Image: David Beckham scored for England when they beat Turkey in Sunderland in Euro 2004 qualifying

England's most recent home meeting with Turkey, at Sunderland in April 2003, saw 106 people arrested during disturbances before, during and after the match.

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Hodgson said: "I'm happy that we have been able to secure three challenging opponents that will help us prepare for the tournament.

We're looking forward to playing in the north-west and north-east of the country before the final home game at Wembley.
Roy Hodgson

"Since the Euro group draw in Paris last December, The FA has worked hard to put together a programme of games around the country and we're looking forward to playing in the north-west and north-east of the country before the final home game at Wembley."

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The Football Association had been in dialogue with UEFA since the Euro 2016 draw and has successfully lobbied the tournament organisers to play more than one qualified opponent from the France 2016 finals in the build-up to the tournament, hence fixtures against Turkey and Portugal.

Watch a recap of England's European Championship qualifying campaign

It is understood the Etihad was selected ahead of the larger Old Trafford due to a fun run taking place near the latter venue on the day of the game, while the Stadium of Light was chosen rather than St James' Park as the Super League's Magic Weekend takes place in Newcastle the weekend before that match.

The Turkey game will take place 10 days after the Euro 2016 squad is announced on May 12, but changes can be made to that group as the deadline for confirming the list of 23 selected names is not until May 31.

The England squad will travel to their training base in Chantilly on June 6 and play their opening match of the tournament against Russia in Marseille on June 11.

Image: David Beckham scored for England when they beat Turkey in Sunderland in Euro 2004 qualifying
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