The unusual reason why England are playing at Old Trafford tonight instead of Wembley

talksport.com, 19 June 2023, 14:15

For the first time in 16 years, England will play an international match at Old Trafford tonight as they take on North Macedonia.

The Three Lions are looking to extend their perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying but will do so away from Wembley.

The change in venue should give plenty of new fans the chance to watch Gareth Southgate's men, but the reason for the switch is bizarre.

Why are England playing at Old Trafford not Wembley?

This is set to be the 18th time Old Trafford has hosted England, meaning they have only ever played more games at Wembley.

The first match took place in 1926 and ended in a 1-0 defeat to Scotland.

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The most famous England fixture at the Theatre of Dreams occurred in 2001 when David Beckham's last-minute free-kick sealed a 2-2 draw against Greece that ensured qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

And the last match was a friendly in 2007 that saw Spain emerge victorious with a 1-0 win.

However, they are back, although the reason for England's return is pretty odd.

Harry Styles is currently embarking on a huge UK tour and has just played four nights at Wembley.

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But despite the last one being two days ago, the pitch is still covered and the stadium is configured for a concert, not a football match.

This was the sixth venue of Styles' UK tour, and the national team has been forced to uproot to accommodate the former One Direction star.

It may be a strange situation, but it's good to see England play in another stadium, and hopefully, the Three Lions can deliver a top performance in front of the Manchurian crowd.

Read full version: https://talksport.com/football/1472385/england-north-macedonia-wembley-old-trafford-harry-styles/

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