England announce pre-Euro 2012 friendlies

The FA have announced that England will play friendlies against Norway and Belgium in the lead up to Euro 2012.

With the tournament in Poland and Ukraine this summer in mind, The Three Lions will face Norway in Oslo on 26^th May, before hosting Belgium at Wembley on 2^nd June.

The pair of fixtures join the game against Netherlands on 29^th February as the only remaining matches before the home nation start their European Championships campaign against France on June 11^th.

Fabio Capello is happy with the fixture schedule, and feels the friendly opponents will test his team.

“Since the draw in December we have been able to work towards these matches and the appropriate opposition, and I’m very happy with these two games,” the Italian coach admitted.

“In the draw we face one of the hosts, Ukraine, which will be a difficult atmosphere to replicate, but looking at the styles of France and Sweden I feel these games are a good preparation for us.”

By Gareth McKnight