Denmark and England will meet next August at the start of the 2005/06 season, it was confirmed today.

The match will take place in Copenhagen’s Parken stadium on Wednesday 17 August with both teams usingthe friendly as preparation for their final FIFA World Cup qualifiers next autumn.

Denmark’s Morten Olsen said: “England is an outstanding opponent. The match is against the most traditional football nation in the world and a team that always delivers 100 per cent effort. It is a perfect timing as preparation for our World Cup qualifier against Turkey two weeks later.”

England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson added: “Denmark have a deserved reputation for attractive, attacking football. I am expecting a very difficult game which will be excellent preparation for the final matches of our qualifying campaign.”