England Women to play Euro 2017 warm-up double-header in April

England Women will play a double-header in April, which are their last home matches before this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2017.

The Lionesses will face Italy at Vale Park on Friday April 7 and Austria at Stadium MK on Monday April 10 as the squad prepares for the tournament in July.

"These games are excellent preparation for us ahead of the Euros," England captain Steph Houghton said. "They're against good European opposition and are close together, so really replicating what we'll experience during the tournament.

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"We need to use these games to build momentum in both our performances and togetherness as a team. We want to be as ruthless as we can be and get into winning habits, and that's something we'll be working towards in these games.

England begin their Euro 2017 campaign, which will be staged in the Netherlands, against Scotland in Utrecht on Wednesday July 19. They then play Spain in Breda July 23 and Portugal on Tilburg July 27 in Group D.

"It's also our last chance to play on home soil before we go to the tournament," Houghton added.

"The support we had during the World Cup in 2015 really helped push us on and we hope people get behind us in the same way during the Euros and at these games."

The Lionesses last played Austria away in August 2010, winning 4-0 thanks to a brace from Kelly Smith and a goal apiece for Ellen White and Alex Scott.

England also enjoyed victory the last time they played Italy at the 2014 Cyprus Cup, winning 2-0 with goals from Toni Duggan and Karen Carney.