The Caltex Socceroos and England will ignite one of Australia’s most passionate sporting rivalries on Friday 27 May with an international football clash at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland.
The Caltex Socceroos will face a full strength England side that is in final preparations for the 2016 UEFA European Championships with the likes of Mile Jedinak, Tim Cahill, Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie lining up against Raheem Sterling, Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Jack Wilshere.
FFA CEO David Gallop said the fixture represented a wonderful opportunity for all sports fans to unite behind the Socceroos.
Caltex Socceroos' latest FIFA rankings
“The Caltex Socceroos taking on England will be a special occasion for everyone and is especially exciting for Socceroos fans,” Gallop said. “Ange and his team have played and matched it with some of the biggest nations in world football over recent years as Australian football and the Socceroos continue to grow on the world stage.
“The Socceroos is a team that unites the nation and this game will excite not just football fans but sports fans in general.”
Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou stated the match would be a fantastic occasion for the players and a good indication of the squad’s development.
“We are excited to have secured this friendly against England as they are preparing for the 2016 European Championships,” Postecoglou said. “We have stated that we want to continue progressing as a football nation so we can challenge the best teams in the world and England was strong in qualifying for the Euros.
“This is another opportunity for the players to step up against a big football nation and show that our journey to make an impact on world football is heading in the right direction. We will face England in their backyard and we will take the game to them so we have a guide as to how we are progressing.
“Australia against England is a massive part of the Australian sporting culture and it will be a fantastic opportunity for our players to experience that rivalry. It will be a special occasion.
“The clash with England, along with the two Greece games in Australia, gives us some great matches as we look ahead to the next round of World Cup Qualifying.”
The match will be the 7th clash between the two nations since Australia first played England in 1980 with the Socceroos winning one match, drawing two and losing three times.
The last time the two teams played saw the Socceroos defeat England 3-1 at Upton Park, London in one of the greatest night’s in Australian football history with Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton finding the back of the net. It is the only time the two teams have played on English soil.
Australia head to head record v England:
31 May 1980 Sydney, Australia 1-2 loss
12 June 1983 Sydney, Australia 0-0 draw
15 June 1983 Brisbane, Australia 0-1 loss
19 June, 1983 Melbourne, Australia 1-1 draw
1 June 1991 Sydney, Australia 0-1 loss
12 February 2003 London, England 3-1 win
England will also play Portugal and Turkey in preparation for the European Championships.
MATCH DETAILS:
England v Australia
Friday 27 May 2016
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
8pm Kick off (5am AEST Saturday 28 May)