INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
England warm up for the World Cup with a DOUBLE-HEADER AT WEMBLEY
Saturday & Tuesday, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football & Sky Sports Premier League
WITH THE WORLD Cup finals kicking off on 21 November, England begin preparations for Qatar with two international friendlies at Wembley.
The Three Lions qualified with a 10-0 thrashing of San Marino in November, and now Gareth Southgate’s men face Switzerland (Saturday, Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football, kick-off 5.30pm) and Ivory Coast (Tuesday, Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm) in their first matches of 2022.
With crucial Nations League fixtures also taking place in June, Southgate will want to cast his eye over all his options.
The first name on his team sheet will surely be Spurs striker Harry Kane, whose four goals against San Marino drew him level with Gary Lineker on 48 England goals. Only Sir Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney are now ahead of Kane in the all-time goalscorers list.
England’s 39 goals was their highest tally in any European or World Cup qualifying campaign, and there will be huge competition for places among the Premier League’s top stars.
Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe scored against San Marino in his first England start and will want to cement his place in the squad, while Crystal Palace’s Conor Gallagher also impressed on his debut.
Saturday’s opponents, Switzerland, qualified for Qatar by finishing top of their group ahead of European champions Italy (see panel, right).
Former Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri, now playing in the MLS for Chicago Fire, remains a threat at the age of 30 and recently won his 100th cap.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast failed to qualify for Qatar, but the Elephants should still provide England with a stern test with a side that could feature Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, Ajax’s in-form striker Sébastien Haller, and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, who could become the first in the modern era to play for and against England after two caps under Roy Hodgson.
England have never played the Ivorians before, while the friendly marks the first time the Three Lions have faced non-european opposition since 2018.