Lionesses to face friendlies against Austria and Italy next month![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-471b4.svg)
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![Sarina Wiegman signed a new England contract earlier this month](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/31012024/da110889-8b43-4e1b-bdf4-4d8b090997ac.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
Women's World Cup finalists England will play friendlies against Austria and Italy next month.
The Lionesess were last in action in December when they missed out on qualification for the Nations League Finals despite a 6-0 thumping of Scotland at Hampden Park.
Sarina Wiegman's squad will next fly out to Spain for two warm-up fixtures before their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign kicks off in April.
They will take on Austria at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras on Friday, February 23 before facing Italy at the same venue on Tuesday, February 27.
The defending European champions will discover their qualification opponents when the draw takes place on March 15, as 16 sides look to book their spot in Switzerland.
Sarina Wiegman, who signed a three-year contract extension earlier this month, said: "This will be our kick-off to get ready for the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign beginning in April, so there's no time to waste in February.
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"Heading to Spain with hopefully warmer weather and great facilities will allow us to maximise every minute together.
"Playing two games against good opposition in Austria and Italy should be excellent preparation for another big year ahead.
"They are two good and different opponents who will want to start the year strong too, so it will be important to come together again as a team and use these games to prepare for the qualification matches starting in April."
England's match with Austria will be broadcast live on ITV1 for viewers in the UK while the Italy clash will be shown on ITV4.