England

England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to Channel 4 about Trent Alexander-Arnold playing right back: "It is about the balance of the team, he has some freedom within that role as well. We've got opportunities for players to play tonight, we have to find out about a few."

On Levi Colwill: "Very good. For a very young defender, there are not many young defenders playing at centre=back in the league. He has been playing at left back at Chelsea too and he is comfortable doing both."

On giving fringe players a chance: "We need to keep players engaged. We have quite a few players at the back who haven't got many caps. This is a great chance for them at a full house at Wembley."

Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'd be furious if I was James Ward-Prowse, what else has he got to do?

It's an odd decision. Kalvin Phillips is in the squad and he's fifth in line to the centre midfield position at Manchester City.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

You can tell we are getting closer to winter because it is chilly and wet as fans arrive at Wembley for tonight's game.

Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think when you go to an England squad when I was playing, it was the same team that plays. Players on the fringes didn't get opportunities.

What Gareth has done here is quite clever. He's keeping players hungry, he's giving them a focus.

All focus is on Tuesday though, let's not kid around.

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England manager Gareth Southgate said the match with Australia renews "one of the great sporting rivalries" and England "will be in trouble" if they do not take the Socceroos seriously.

England are playing only their second friendly since March 2022.

The Euro 2020 runners-up will also be looking ahead to next week, when they can seal their place at next summer's championship in Germany.

Southgate's team have a six-point lead in Group C over Italy, Ukraine and North Macedonia, and their match with holders Italy on Tuesday could decide top spot.

"Our mindset has got to be spot on. Equally, we've still got a bit of work to do to qualify for a European Championship," said Southgate.

"We have good players and we need to give people opportunities to show what they can do."

Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown has also had a go at picking his combined golden generation XI.

I'd say it is pretty close to the team I'd pick too...

The current crop of players has been described as "The Golden Generation" for England - a label that was also used with the squad from the early 2000s.

Our chief football writer Phil McNulty has put together his combined XI from the present day and the team that was knocked by Portugal in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.

This is Phil's team.

Image source, .

Who would you pick? Make your choice here.

The Football Association has "tried to make the best decision with good intentions" over tributes to those who have died in Israel and Gaza, according to England manager Gareth Southgate.

Players will wear black armbands during tonight's game and a period of silence will be held in order to respect "the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine".

The FA has chosen not to light up the Wembley arch with the colours of the Israeli flag.

Joel: Already some very clever picture usage on the liveblog tonight. A 17-year-old Wayne Rooney, this week announced as Birmingham City manager, going up against Blues legend Stan Lazaridis for Australia on his England debut!

You are giving me more credit than I deserve...

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill makes his first appearance for England as Gareth Southgate changes all but one of his starting 11 that began the 3-1 win over Scotland just over a month ago.

Crystal Palace's Sam Johnstone is in goal, while Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and West Ham's Jarrod Bowen both start up front. Brighton defender Lewis Dunk is the only player to start this one and the Scotland game.

England XI: Johnstone, Colwill, Tomori, Dunk, Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Henderson, Maddison, Grealish, Watkins, Bowen.

Subs: Ramsdale, Pickford, Trippier, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Guehi, Rice, Phillips, Bellingham, Rashford, Foden, Nketiah, Kane.

Australia's side includes a host of players that represent English or Scottish clubs, including St Mirren pair Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus, Hearts' Kye Rowles, Martin Boyle of Hibernian, Harry Souttar of Leicester City and Cameron Burgess of Ipswich Town.

Former Brighton and Arsenal goalkeeper Mat Ryan starts.

Australia XI: Ryan, Burgess, Souttar, Rowles, Strain, Irvine, Baccus, Goodwin, Boyle, Duke, Metcalfe.

Subs: Redmayne, Glover, Degenek, Bos, O'Neill, Behich, Miller, Silvera, Glover, Luongo, Borrello, Mabil, Circati.

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Stephanie Frappart will referee tonight's game, becoming the first female official to oversee a men's international match at Wembley.

The 39-year-old from France became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup fixture during Qatar 2022 when she took charge of Germany's 4-2 victory over Costa Rica.

Peter Elsworth, the FA's head of refereeing operations, said: "Stephanie is an outstanding referee.

"We're delighted she and her team will take charge of our upcoming fixture against Australia in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium and we're looking forward to welcoming them to the home of English football."

Alex Howell
Football reporter at Wembley

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Gareth Southgate hinted when the squad was announced that Levi Colwill could make his debut against Australia and at left back.

The Chelsea defender's favoured position is centre back but he has been playing at left back for his club and Southgate acknowledged that there isn't much 'depth' in that position in the Premier League.

What a moment for Levi Cowill.

A future England captain if I've ever seen one.

The England team news is out and Levi Colwill makes his England debut, while Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen start.

Full team news to follow.

Image source, England

Image source, Getty Images

Build up to the game begins on BBC Radio 5 live at 19:00 BST, with full match commentary from 19:45.

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England have played Australia seven times, with the latter winning just once.

That was in 2003, when a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney made his Three Lions debut.

Australia won the friendly at the Boleyn Ground 3-1, with Francis Jeffers getting England's goal on his one and only cap.

Hello and good evening!

We've got a bit of Friday night football with England back in international action.

With nothing of significance riding on tonight's game, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is likely to give some of those who have been on the fringes of the squad a chance to impress.

We'll find out soon enough with official teams due to drop any minute now.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

In some sports, England-Australia is a huge rivalry, but in football the two don't often cross paths.

Tonight they meet in a friendly at Wembley, the first time they have faced each other since 2016.

While both sides will be keen to take the bragging rights, England will have one eye on next week's Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy and the chance to wrap up qualification to next year's tournament.