Good record: England last played a 'home' friendly abroad in 2005, when they beat Argentina 3-2

Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp, favourite for the England job, strongly criticised a Wembley friendly against Hungary held in August 2010, little more than a month after the end of the World Cup finals in South Africa.

'Can someone tell me why you have an international week the week the season is starting?' fumed Redknapp, who was preparing his team for a Champions League play-off tie at the time, coincidentally in Bern.

'Can someone tell me what that is all about? They've just been away as a group together to the World Cup. They're probably sick of the sight of each other and now they're going to have an international week before the first week of the season, before we play Manchester City and a European qualifier.'

AUGUST DATES - 11th: Men’s Olympic final (Wembley).  12th: FA Community Shield (possibly at Villa Park).  15th: International friendlies. 18th: Premier League starts. 21st: First leg of Champions League play-off round.

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