England are close to finalising a friendly match against the reigning European champions in November, according to reports in Spain.
With Roy Hodgson’s side currently top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group after winning all four of their matches so far, the fixture is expected to be given the green light to take place on 14 November if both countries manage to avoid a play-off. It appears unlikely England will need a play-off, although Spain are by no means assured of automatic qualification after suffering their first qualifying defeat in eight years in October, when they were beaten 2-1 by Slovakia.
That has left Vicente del Bosque’s side in second place in Group C, level on points with Ukraine. The top two in each group qualify directly for Euro 2016 along with the best third-placed team ,with the rest taking part in play-offs that week.
According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, the game has been lined up as part of the deal struck between Europe’s top footballing nations to take on one another during international weeks earmarked for friendlies and exhibition matches. Spain have already played Italy, France and Germany in the last 12 months and face Holland in Amsterdam on 31 March, while England will take on Italy in Turin.
A venue for the match has yet to be finalised, although Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium could be a contender to host La Roja for the first time since Spain played Holland in January 1987.
In 2009, England lost 2-0 at Sevilla’s Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, while the previous encounter in 2004 was marred by racist chanting by large sections of the crowd at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium during a 1-0 defeat.
Frank Lampard scored the only goal of the game the last time the two countries met at Wembley in 2011.
