England begin their preparations for this summer’s European Championships in France with a friendly against Turkey this weekend at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester – the home of the state-of-the-art UCFB Etihad Campus.

With the domestic league season now in its final stages, attentions have turned to Euro 2016 and if England can get past the quarter final stage of a major tournament for the first time since 1996.

The visiting team themselves are warming up for the tournament, and both sides are expected to use the occasion to get a closer look at their squads.

England manager Roy Hodgson picked his 26-man squad this week, which he’ll whittle down to 23 following two more warm up matches against Australia at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, and finally versus Ronaldo’s Portugal at Wembley Stadium, UCFB’s second iconic campus.

UCFB student Mackenzie Cadman, who studies BA (Hons) International Football Business at the iconic UCFB Wembley campus, thinks England could spring a surprise and win the tournament. He said: “I believe this England squad now has the depth and youth in the team to strive for success in the coming years. I think this tournament should still be used as an experiment to find England’s best starting XI, but I won’t be surprised at all if we reach the semis or maybe even take home some silverware.” 

England’s warm up fixtures:

Sunday May 22nd – Turkey, Etihad Stadium, 5.15pm

Friday May 27th – Australia, Stadium of Light, 7.45pm

Thursday June 2nd – Portugal, Wembley, 7.45pm

Euro 2016 fixtures

Saturday June 11th – Russia, Marseille, 8pm

Thursday June 16th – Wales, Lens, 2pm

Monday June 20th – Slovakia, Saint Etienne 8pm

England’s provisional 26-man squad

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Chris Smalling (Manchester Utd), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Andros Townsend (Newcastle Utd), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester Utd), Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)