England to play at Stadium of Light
Three Lions to take on Australia at the home of Sunderland AFC
The Football Association has announced today that Sunderland’s Stadium of Light has been selected to host one of England’s three friendly games this summer ahead of the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
The Three Lions will face Australia at the home of Sunderland AFC on Friday 27 May, in what will be one of the highest profile events at the stadium since it opened in 1997. England will also play games at Wembley and the Manchester City Stadium as they prepare for the tournament.
The Stadium of Light has previously hosted two full England Internationals. In 1999 England defeated Belgium 2-1 in a qualifying game for the 2002 European Championships. In 2003 the Three Lions faced Turkey in a European 2004 Championship qualifying game. The tie is remembered for David Beckham’s 90th minute penalty, which sealed a 2-0 victory for England.
England’s Young Lions have also played a number of games on Wearside, the most high profile being an Under 21s European qualifier against Slovakia in June 2003.
Sunderland’s former home Roker Park was one of the venues for the 1966 World Cup, famously hosting the quarter final between the USSR and Hungary.