The English Football Association (FA) have confirmed that the senior national team will face the Netherlands and Italy in March 2018 as part of their World Cup preparations ahead of Russia 2018.

Both Italy and the Netherlands failed to qualify for the tournament with the former losing via the playoffs.

The team, currently managed by Gareth Southgate, will travel to Amsterdam to face the Dutch before welcoming Italy to the Wembley Stadium on March 27.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is expected to run for over a month (from June 14 to July 15).

England suffered a 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands at the Wembley Stadium when both sides last met in March 2016 however the team’s last meeting with the Italians was more positive, a 1-1 draw some two years ago.