England to Start New Season With Holland Friendly in Amsterdam
Fabio Capello hopes the August fixture will be a useful warm-up before England's last World Cup qualifying matches
England will open next season with a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam on August 12 next year. Fabio Capello hopes the fixture will serve as a useful warm-up for the conclusion of their World Cup qualifying campaign in the following two months, which includes matches against Croatia and the Ukraine.
The England manager regards Holland, who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, as ideal friendly opponents. England last played in Amsterdam two years ago, when Wayne Rooney scored in a 1-1 draw.
As part of the deal, Holland will come to Wembley in August 2011, with Under-21 fixtures being played before each senior international. Next year's game will be broadcast live on ITV, with Setanta screening the return.
The announcement means the 2009 fixture calendar is almost complete, with friendlies lined up against Slovakia and Slovenia in March and September respectively. Aside from the November dates, which would be required for any World Cup play-offs, the only one still to be filled is February 12, when England are expected to play Spain. Although the fixture has been agreed, the FA are still waiting to hear where Spain would prefer to play.
Milan's playmaker Kaka has defended the club's decision to sign David Beckham on a short-term loan deal in the winter transfer window. The England midfielder will join the Serie A club in January for two months before returning to LA Galaxy.
"Many people believe Beckham's arrival will be a negative thing," said Kaka. "But we players believe that he can really give a lot to this team and contribute to us winning the Scudetto and the Uefa Cup."
Meanwhile, Kaka admits he and his team-mates are still adapting to playing alongside Ronaldinho. Kaka's fellow Brazil international arrived at San Siro in the summer from Barcelona and has earned a regular place in Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI. "Before we were used to playing automatically," said Kaka. "Since Ronaldinho's arrival, we still have to adapt. We still have to find a better understanding." The Rossoneri lie third in Serie A and face Catania at San Siro tomorrow.
The England manager regards Holland, who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, as ideal friendly opponents. England last played in Amsterdam two years ago, when Wayne Rooney scored in a 1-1 draw.
As part of the deal, Holland will come to Wembley in August 2011, with Under-21 fixtures being played before each senior international. Next year's game will be broadcast live on ITV, with Setanta screening the return.
The announcement means the 2009 fixture calendar is almost complete, with friendlies lined up against Slovakia and Slovenia in March and September respectively. Aside from the November dates, which would be required for any World Cup play-offs, the only one still to be filled is February 12, when England are expected to play Spain. Although the fixture has been agreed, the FA are still waiting to hear where Spain would prefer to play.
Milan's playmaker Kaka has defended the club's decision to sign David Beckham on a short-term loan deal in the winter transfer window. The England midfielder will join the Serie A club in January for two months before returning to LA Galaxy.
"Many people believe Beckham's arrival will be a negative thing," said Kaka. "But we players believe that he can really give a lot to this team and contribute to us winning the Scudetto and the Uefa Cup."
Meanwhile, Kaka admits he and his team-mates are still adapting to playing alongside Ronaldinho. Kaka's fellow Brazil international arrived at San Siro in the summer from Barcelona and has earned a regular place in Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI. "Before we were used to playing automatically," said Kaka. "Since Ronaldinho's arrival, we still have to adapt. We still have to find a better understanding." The Rossoneri lie third in Serie A and face Catania at San Siro tomorrow.
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