England have set up a friendly date with Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria in Vienna on November 16. The game has been arranged as part of the build-up to England's final Group D qualifier against Croatia the following Wednesday when coach Steve McClaren hopes to seal qualification for the last 16.
England met Austria twice on the way to the 2006 World Cup, registering a 2-2 draw away from home before Frank Lampard's penalty sealed a single-goal triumph in the Old Trafford return. Austria drew 1-1 with the Czech Republic on Wednesday and will expect a capacity crowd at the Ernst Happel Stadium for England's visit.
By the time they head to the Austrian capital, McClaren will have a good idea whether his team will be heading back into central Europe next summer.
They currently lie fourth, behind Croatia, Israel and Russia but with three of their next four games at Wembley, they are confident of making up the lost ground.