England to play Italy in Euro 2020 warm-up

Three Lions face Italians on 27 March at Wembley

England in training at St Georges Park last month (Getty)

England will launch their preparations for the Euro 2020 finals with a friendly against Italy at Wembley.

Gareth Southgate’s men will face the Italians on Friday 27 March in a game designated as “The Heads Up International” in support of the Football Association’s charitable partnership with the Duke of Cambridge’s Heads Together mental health initiative.

England are due to meet Denmark at Wembley four days later, and will travel to Austria and host Romania in June ahead of their opening fixture against Croatia.

“The Three Lions will travel to Vienna to face Austria on Tuesday 2 June (7.45pm kick-off UK time) at the Ernst Happel Stadion during their pre-tournament training camp,” the FA said last week.

“Gareth Southgate’s squad will then host the Romanians on Sunday 7 June (kick-off TBC) at a venue in England that is still to be confirmed.”

Austria have been drawn alongside Ukraine, Holland and a play-off winner in Group C for next summer’s European Championship, while Romania are hoping to secure their place via the play-offs in March.

PA