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England start World Cup campaign against Andorra before the big Croatian test
England will begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign against part-time
Andorra in September.
After a marathon eight-hour meeting in Zagreb, new manager Fabio Capello
emerged reasonably happy with a fixture list in which his main aim - securing two
September clashes with Euro 2008 nemesis Croatia - was achieved.
Capello will return to Zagreb to face Slaven Bilic's men immediately after the
Andorra game on September 10 this year, with the return encounter at Wembley
12 months later.
England will conclude their campaign on home soil against Belarus on October 14,
2009, four days after a trip to Kiev to face Ukraine.
While the arduous eight-hour flight to Kazakhstan will be undertaken in June, not
an ideal time from the FA's perspective, a hoped-for evening kick-off should
negate the effects of the sweltering heat, while a Wembley clash with Andorra
the following Wednesday should not be too taxing for a team showing any ill
-effects from the journey.
Given the impasse at the start of the meeting, it is a surprise an agreement on
fixtures was reached.
At one point, the smaller teams in the group suggested there was no chance of a
resolution until England, Croatia and Ukraine sorted out their differences.
In the end though, Capello had got what he wanted and was happy to let the
other five nations in the group sort out the finer details themselves.
"We are reasonably pleased with how it worked out," said FA director of football
development Sir Trevor Brooking, who accompanied Capello into the meeting.
"He wanted Croatia twice in September - he was really relaxed about whether we
were home or away.
"It has worked out quite nicely that we have a free Saturday before the home
game. He also wanted to start with Andorra.
"The two summer games weren't quite as bad as normal. It is unfortunate we are
not involved in the tournament coming up, so players will have a long rest this
summer. He just felt it was an opportunity to get them away for a period of time.
"We have to make sure we get an evening kick-off for the Kazakhstan game but if
you are going to have to play two matches in June, they are the ones you would
have chosen."
England's fixtures for the qualifying stage of the 2010 World Cup.
Andorra (a) Saturday, September 6, 2008
Croatia (a) Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Kazakhstan (h) Saturday, October 11, 2008
Belarus (a) Wednesday, October 15, 2008
No game - Saturday, March 28, 2009
Ukraine (h) Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Kazakhstan (a) Saturday, June 6, 2009
Andorra (h) Wednesday, June 10, 2009
No game - Saturday, September 5, 2009
Croatia (h) Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Ukraine (a) Saturday, October 10, 2009
Belarus (h) Wednesday, October 14, 2009
England will begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign against part-time
Andorra in September.
After a marathon eight-hour meeting in Zagreb, new manager Fabio Capello
emerged reasonably happy with a fixture list in which his main aim - securing two
September clashes with Euro 2008 nemesis Croatia - was achieved.
Capello will return to Zagreb to face Slaven Bilic's men immediately after the
Andorra game on September 10 this year, with the return encounter at Wembley
12 months later.
England will conclude their campaign on home soil against Belarus on October 14,
2009, four days after a trip to Kiev to face Ukraine.
While the arduous eight-hour flight to Kazakhstan will be undertaken in June, not
an ideal time from the FA's perspective, a hoped-for evening kick-off should
negate the effects of the sweltering heat, while a Wembley clash with Andorra
the following Wednesday should not be too taxing for a team showing any ill
-effects from the journey.
Given the impasse at the start of the meeting, it is a surprise an agreement on
fixtures was reached.
At one point, the smaller teams in the group suggested there was no chance of a
resolution until England, Croatia and Ukraine sorted out their differences.
In the end though, Capello had got what he wanted and was happy to let the
other five nations in the group sort out the finer details themselves.
"We are reasonably pleased with how it worked out," said FA director of football
development Sir Trevor Brooking, who accompanied Capello into the meeting.
"He wanted Croatia twice in September - he was really relaxed about whether we
were home or away.
"It has worked out quite nicely that we have a free Saturday before the home
game. He also wanted to start with Andorra.
"The two summer games weren't quite as bad as normal. It is unfortunate we are
not involved in the tournament coming up, so players will have a long rest this
summer. He just felt it was an opportunity to get them away for a period of time.
"We have to make sure we get an evening kick-off for the Kazakhstan game but if
you are going to have to play two matches in June, they are the ones you would
have chosen."
England's fixtures for the qualifying stage of the 2010 World Cup.
Andorra (a) Saturday, September 6, 2008
Croatia (a) Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Kazakhstan (h) Saturday, October 11, 2008
Belarus (a) Wednesday, October 15, 2008
No game - Saturday, March 28, 2009
Ukraine (h) Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Kazakhstan (a) Saturday, June 6, 2009
Andorra (h) Wednesday, June 10, 2009
No game - Saturday, September 5, 2009
Croatia (h) Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Ukraine (a) Saturday, October 10, 2009
Belarus (h) Wednesday, October 14, 2009
