England Confirms Egypt Friendly as Capello's World Cup Plans Take Shape

The FA has confirmed today that England will take on Egypt at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, March 3, in what will be their first match of 2010.

England manager Fabio Capello was reportedly keen to take on the Pharaohs as a way of preparing for England's match with Algeria in the group stage of the World Cup next summer.

Capello has yet to face an African side during his reign and will be eager to see how his side matches up against the North African team in March.

England has never played Algeria, and Capello has already spoken publicly about his desire to face Egypt in a friendly match before the World Cup. Egypt was the last side to have faced Algeria, first beating their arch rivals in Cairo to force a one-off playoff in the Sudan. Algeria advanced, winning 1-0 to book their place in South Africa.

The Three Lions have met Egypt on two previous occasions, both under Bobby Robson, winning 4-0 in a friendly in Cairo in 1986 before triumphing by a single Mark Wright goal four years later at the 1990 World Cup.

Fabio Capello is also keen for England to arrange pre-tournament friendlies for the end of May, with Mexico pencilled in as preferred opposition.

In the same vein as Capello hopes facing Algeria will help England prepare for playing Algeria in South Africa, the Italians would like to face the CONCACAF’s other traditional powerhouse in a friendly match before his side takes on the United States in their opening World Cup fixture on June 12.

England still plans to travel to Austria next May before they finally fly to South Africa for the actual tournament, and look likely to play another warm-up fixture during their time there with the opposition most likely to be Japan.

There had been rumours of a possible friendly match at Wembley against Diego Maradona's Argentina, which would have no doubt led to a 90,000 sell-out crowd at Wembley, something which is in doubt with the Egypt game. But these plans appear to have been shelved with Capello more focused on preparing for his club's initial tests in the World Cup group stage.