England v Australia
England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, will field two England sides in tonight’s international friendly against Australia at Upton Park.
The match, which kicks off at eight, will see Eriksson field an England senior side, including nine players from England’s World Cup squad, in the first half and an under-25 including Everton’s Wayne Rooney for the final 45 minutes.
Likely line up 1st half: Goal: David James (West Ham). Defence: Ashely Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Gary Neville (Manchester United). Midfield: Kieron Dyer (Newcastle), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (Manchester United). Strikers: Michael Owen (Liverpool), James Beattie (Southampton).
2nd half: Goal: Matt Robinson (Leeds). Defence: Matthew Upson (Birmingham), Ledley King (Spurs), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Danny Mills (Leeds). Midfield: Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle), Danny Murphy (Liverpool), Joe Cole (West Ham), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich). Strikers: Francis Jeffers (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Everton).
China v Brazil
“The line-up will basically be the same team which played against Korea in December and most of the players who played in the World Cup.” said Parreira.
China will be hoping to take revenge after Brazil beat them 4-0 during last summer’s world cup, China have noinjury worries and will field a choice 11.
Spain v Germany
German manager, Rudi Voeller, will be forced to cope without six of his usual squad – including Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack – because of injury.
Spain are expected to field the team that will take on Ukraine in March’s Euro 2004 qualifier.
Spain coach Inaki Saez said: “There will be the odd absentee on Wednesday but the match is a type of trial run. We’re a young team, even if some of us are now well-known, but I want to see how we can get on against top teams.”
Holland v Argentina
Both managers are using the game as a warm up for their coming competitive games, with the only real absentee being Hernan Crespo of Inter who is injured.
“The game against the Netherlandsis definitely not a practice match for us, they are too tough of an opponent for that, and what’s more, we will play to win,” said Argentinean manager Marcelo Bielsa.
France v Czech Republic
France will welcome back three international regulars for Wednesday night’s international against the CzechRepublic. Robert Pires, Bixente Lizarazu and David Trezeguet have all received their first cal-up from coach Jacques Santini since France’s World Cup failure.
“I know what they are worth with their clubs but I want to see them playing with their France team mates,’ said Santini. ‘I want to see how they can fit in a squad which is now involved in a new story.”
France, unbeaten in their last five internationals, will face a tough Czech team with all the first 11 fit.
Fixtures
Bulgaria v Hungary
Cyprus v Russia
Egypt v Denmark
France v Czech Republic
Greece v Norway
Italy v Portugal
Latvia v Lithuania
Malta v Kazakhstan
Morocco v Senegal
Northern Ireland v Finland
Scotland v Ireland
Spain v Germany
Turkey v Ukraine
