Tuesday 31 March 2015 17:44, UK
England manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed the FA is trying to line up high-profile friendlies against Spain, Germany and Holland if they qualify for next year's European Championships.
Hodgson’s side look set to do just that after winning their first five matches in the European Qualifiers to comfortably top Group E.
Qualification for the tournament in France would leave space in the international calendar for two friendlies in November at a time when the third-placed teams will be involved in play-offs.
The FA is attempting to give England a real test during that period by taking on France at Wembley on November 17 and it then hopes to set up a friendly in Spain later that month.
An FA spokesman confirmed England had agreed to play a friendly against world champions Germany in March 2016.
It is also understood to be in discussions with the Netherlands about facing the World Cup semi-finalists prior to the tournament.
"We'll have four or five games before France, and each of those will be played against top-class opponents, we think," Hodgson said as he faced the media ahead of England's friendly against Italy in Turin on Tuesday.
"We have Germany, France, Spain and Holland in mind."
