Roy Hodgson hoping to take England on the road for Euro 2016 build-up

Roy Hodgson is considering asking the FA of taking England on the road before Euro 2016

ROY HODGSON is considering asking the FA about the possibility of taking England back on the road in the build-up to Euro 2016.

 

The idea of playing warm-up matches away from Wembley, at venues around the country, is just one of several suggestions which will be discussed by the England manager and his bosses.

The England set-up believes the move would help generate a feelgood factor behind the squad ahead of the finals in France next summer, although the FA has a contract with Wembley to play home games there and would have to see whether it could be temporarily over-ridden.

 

England played 34 matches around the country between February 2001 and February 2007 while the new Wembley was being built, playing at a variety of stadiums including Portman Road, St James' Park and St Mary's, before regularly using the increased capacity of Old Trafford.

The prospect of playing away from Wembley has been floated to the England squad.

 

After the dead-rubber qualifier with Estonia next month, Wembley will host friendly matches against Euro 2016 hosts France in November and Holland next March.

Hodgson and the FA are in the process of arranging two more warm-up matches at the end of the season.

There would be no pressing need for England to go to a training camp abroad ahead of the championships given they will not need to acclimatise to conditions and they could be based at St George's Park.