England to host France and travel to Germany for international friendlies

Published Nov. 19, 2014 7:36 a.m. ET

foxsports

England will play high-profile friendlies against France and world champions Germany in the build-up to the 2016 European Championships.

France will travel to Wembley for a match on November 17 next year, while England will travel to Germany to take on the world's top-ranked team in March 2016.

The Football Association confirmed negotiations are also under way regarding additional friendlies against the Netherlands, who reached the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, and reigning European champions Spain.

Roy Hodgson's side have won all four of their qualifying matches in Group E so far, with matches against minnows like San Marino and Estonia doing little to prepare England for the expected task of taking on Europe's elite in France.

The FA has already announced fixtures against Italy for March next year and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on June 7.

"It's very encouraging that our search for opposition in the international weeks has led to quality teams such as France, Spain and Germany - with Italy and the Republic of Ireland already announced for 2015," said England manager Hodgson.

"They will complement the important Euro qualifiers which remain the top priority and we are taking nothing for granted. However, these six potential fixtures will provide the type of test we're looking for going forward."

The France friendly is dependent on England - who are already six points clear at the top of Group E - not being involved in a Euro 2016 play-off.