Socceroos set to play England at Wembley next month
The Socceroos could face England in a friendly match at Wembley next month with Football Federation Australia at an advanced stage of discussions to lock in the blockbuster fixture.
FFA and England's Football Association have reached an agreement in principle for a match at the historic venue however complexities around travel, accommodation and possible quarantine restrictions have delayed official confirmation of the friendly.
The Socceroos suffered a 2-1 defeat to England in Sunderland in 2016.Credit:Alex Livesey
Australia are desperate to secure a series of friendlies in mid November international window to ensure 2020 doesn't end without a single senior men's international match being played and are looking at potentially playing to two matches in the UK.
The Socceroos are reportedly set to play USA in London in one of those fixtures but have set a clash with England at Wembley as their top priority. FFA sources suggest a deal is set to be signed to secure Australia's first-ever match against the Three Lions at Wembley.
However, the escalating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe has lead to a major delay in that game being announced after the UK and several other European nations announced new sets of restrictions and regulations.
Should the friendly match still proceed in spite of the rising number of cases in the UK and Europe, Australia will select a squad comprised solely of European-based players. FFA sources suggest they are eager to avoid forcing Australian and Asian-based players to undergo lengthy periods of quarantine upon their return to from international duty which could jeopardise their fitness, threatening game time at their respective clubs.
The potential match against England in mid November will be Australia's first game against the Three Lions since 2016, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Australia scored a famous victory over England in 2003, winning 3-1 in a friendly at Upton Park.
England will enter any possible friendly against Australia on the back a slight drop in form after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Denmark in the UEFA Nation's League overnight.
Dominic Bossi is a football reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.