England set to play Switzerland friendly at Leicester's King Power Stadium

After playing against Costa Rica at Elland Road, Gareth Southgate's side look set to continue the trend of taking some of their home friendlies away from Wembley

Mark Mann-Bryans
Tuesday 12 June 2018 12:36 BST
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It's understood the Three Lions will play at the home of the 2015/16 Premier League champions
It's understood the Three Lions will play at the home of the 2015/16 Premier League champions (Getty)

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The Football Association will continue to stage England matches on the road with a September friendly against Switzerland set for Leicester City's King Power Stadium.

It's understood the Three Lions will play at the home of the 2015/16 Premier League champions.

England fly off to the World Cup on Tuesday having won their final warm-up match 2-0 against Costa Rica at a packed Elland Road.

Now Gareth Southgate's side look set to continue the trend of taking some of their home friendlies away from Wembley.

The first post-World Cup fixture will be at the national stadium as England host Spain on September 8 in the newly-formed UEFA Nations League.

But it is believed a friendly against Switzerland is to be played on September 11 and will be staged at Leicester's 32,300 capacity King Power Stadium.

England played 34 consecutive home internationals away from Wembley as the new stadium was constructed - hosted by a number of venues up and down the country over a seven-year period.

One of those games, a 2-1 friendly win over Serbia and Montenegro was hosted at Leicester - their first ever international match.

England are set to play more games on the road away from Wembley
England are set to play more games on the road away from Wembley (Getty)

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy picked up nine England caps during his career, all of which came during the time home internationals were played on the road.

"The players enjoyed it when I played," he told Press Association Sport.

"It is better for the fans and although Wembley is great, it can be lifeless, the atmosphere isn't great. Elland Road, Anfield, St James' Park, Old Trafford, you name it, it is always rocking.

"People get excited from that area to go, we saw at Elland Road last week how good it was. I would like to see it come back."

Staging some England fixtures away from Wembley may also become a necessity if the stadium is purchased by Shahid Khan.

The owner of Fulham and the Jacksonville Jaguars made an approach to the FA to buy Wembley and, if a number of NFL matches are to be staged there, it could lead to fixture clashes with England internationals

PA

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