ENGLAND C are off to Jordan and boss Paul Fairclough expects their latest adventure to be a real eye opener.
Non-League‘s Three Lions are set to take on the Jordan’s Under-23 side on Tuesday, March 4 in capital city Amman.
The friendly will provide an opportunity to face an unfamiliar style of football ahead of the International Challenge Trophy group opener against Slovakia in May.
And Fairclough also wants to use the unique trip to educate the players about a country, flanked by Israel, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia, they would be unlikely to visit otherwise.
“It’s nestled around a really interesting part of the world from a cultural and heritage point of view,” Fairclough said. “That alone is going to be an education for the players. We’ll make sure they see a little bit of that.
“They are used to going on their holidays to Greece, Spain and America but they’re going to really see a country steeped in religious beliefs. It’s going to be quite an eye-opener for them and I’m pleased we can give them the opportunity to see that out there.”
Last time out, goals from Fraser Franks and James Norwood saw England C come from two goals down to draw with a full Czech Republic Under-21 side.
And Fairclough is expecting a stiff challenge from the youngsters of a country sitting just below the Republic of Ireland in the FIFA rankings.
“On the football side it’s another exciting venture for us and an opportunity, yet again, to be exposed to another style of football – and there’s no question it will be different,” Fairclough said.
“It will be a tough game, but exciting because I’ll look to see how our Conference players handle a different type of opposition.”
