England’s European champions are gearing up for their European Championship qualifying campaign with a series of friendlies against Austria and Italy in February.
The matches will take place at Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras, southern Spain, providing Sarina Wiegman’s team with ideal conditions for preparation.
The first clash against Austria is scheduled for Friday, 23 February, followed by a match against Italy four days later.
As the qualifying journey for the 2025 European Championship commences in April, the draw is set to take place on 5 March.
Wiegman expressed the significance of these friendlies, stating, “This will be our kick-off to get ready for the Euro qualifying campaign beginning in April, so there’s no time to waste in February.”
She emphasized the benefits of heading to Spain for warmer weather and top-notch facilities to make the most of their time together.
The matches against Austria and Italy, both formidable opponents, are seen as crucial preparation for the upcoming challenges.
In a collaborative effort, Emma Coates’ Under-23 side will join the senior players for the training camp.
Wiegman highlighted the pride in England’s development pathway, expressing, “We are very proud of our pathway and how our development teams are progressing, and I’m really pleased that Emma’s Under-23’s squad can travel with us to Spain.”
This collaborative approach is expected to bring about numerous opportunities for growth and teamwork.