England fix friendly double - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

England fix friendly double

England will play Slovakia and Slovenia in friendly internationals at Wembley in 2009, the Football Association confirmed on Monday evening.

Slovakia face Fabio Capello's rejuvenated side on March 28 ahead of England's home World Cup qualifier against fellow eastern Europeans Ukraine three days later.

Slovenia have been chosen to play the Three Lions on September 5 ahead of the clash with Balkan neighbours Croatia on September 9.

England coach Capello helped to hand-pick the two opponents and believes they will provide ideal preparation for the more meaningful matches immediately afterwards.

"It's very important to play similar style opposition as practice for the competitive matches," the Italian said.

"The Slovakia and Slovenia games will be very good preparation for the vital World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Croatia."

The two friendly opponents are in the same World Cup qualifying group (three) and faced each other last Wednesday, when Slovenia won 2-1 to go joint top of their pool alongside Poland.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video