Japan announce England friendly
TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- England will play Japan in a friendly international in Manchester on June 1, Japan Football Association (JFA) general secretary Takeo Hirata said.
The friendly will take place at the City of Manchester Stadium, home of English Premier League club Manchester City.
England have agreed to the match as a warmup ahead of the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal, the JFA said.
An English FA spokesman could not confirm the fixture on Wednesday but said England were seeking to play a tri-nation tournament before leaving for Euro 2004 which starts in Portugal on June 12.
England and Japan have only played once before, in a friendly in June 1995 at Wembley when England won 2-1.
The JFA are also trying to arrange another friendly in Europe on May 30. Japan will play the Czech Republic in Prague on April 28 and Germany at home on December 16.
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