Ricoh Arena set for England encounter

01 September 2009 03:35
The Ricoh Arena has been selected to host England`s Under-21 clash against Macedonia on Friday October 9. The encounter will be the first home qualifier for Stuart Pearce`s side as they look to secure their place in the 2011 European Under-21 Championship in Denmark. It will be the third qualification match for the young Lions as they prepare for this Friday`s opener in Macedonia and then a trip to Greece next Tuesday. Pearce`s charges reached the final of this summer`s European Championship tournament in Sweden before losing out to Germany, the side they beat in a play-off back in 2006 when the Ricoh first played host to the Under-21 team. Chief executive of the Ricoh Arena Daniel Gidney told the club`s official website: "Our ambitions to host football games during the 2012 Olympics are well known and attracting this level of event can only help us to achieve that aim." On-loan Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork has joined up with Pearce`s squad for the trips to Macedonia and Greece and could once again be involved in October.

Source: Eurosport