Gareth Southgate and the England squad will prepare for Euros glory in Middlesbrough

The England manager will return to his former club’s town for two friendlies in early June
Gareth Southgate and the England squad will prepare for Euros glory in Middlesbrough (Photos: Shutterstock, Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images & Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images)Gareth Southgate and the England squad will prepare for Euros glory in Middlesbrough (Photos: Shutterstock, Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images & Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images)
Gareth Southgate and the England squad will prepare for Euros glory in Middlesbrough (Photos: Shutterstock, Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images & Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images)

England will prepare for their shot at European Championship glory in Middlesbrough.

With Wembley handed over to UEFA at the start of June ahead of the tournament, Gareth Southgate's men are heading on the road in the build-up to Euro 2020.

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England will play their group matches in the capital and be based at St George's Park for the tournament, but the preparation camp and warm-up friendlies will be held in Middlesbrough.

Southgate’s Middlesbrough links

Southgate skippered Boro to Carling Cup glory in 2004 - the club's first-ever major trophy - and the UEFA Cup final two years later, before spending a three-year stint as manager there up until 2009.

The England boss will return to his old stomping ground this summer, with the Riverside Stadium hosting the Euro warm-up fixtures against Austria on June 2 and Romania on June 6.

The Teesside double-header could also see the Three Lions host fans for the first time since the 7-0 Euros qualification win against Montenegro at Wembley in November 2019.

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The Football Association said: "Should it be deemed safe for fans to attend these forthcoming fixtures then any ticketing arrangements will be communicated via The FA and not Middlesbrough FC.

"The FA will continue to liaise with relevant authorities and explore the possibility of supporters being in attendance."

Riverside Stadium

When England play against Austria on June 2 it will be the first time it has hosted the first-team national side since 2003, and the first international friendly held at the Riverside Stadium

England have played in Manchester, Sunderland, Leeds, Leicester and Southampton since 2016.

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The Riverside Stadium, which was opened in 1995, has only once previously hosted the men's senior team, when Sven-Goran Eriksson's side beat Slovakia 2-1 in a Euro 2004 qualifier in June 2003.

England Women lost 2-1 to Brazil at the stadium in October 2019, while the men's Under-21 side have played there eight times.