Germany will play friendlies against England and Italy as part of its preparations for the European Championship next year.

The German football federation says the World Cup champions will face England in Berlin on March 26 and Italy three days later in Munich.

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff says, "these are exactly the games everyone was looking for. It was important for us to measure ourselves against the big and powerful football nations in the few opportunities we had."

Germany is second in its qualifying group for Euro 2016. With 13 points, the side is one behind Poland in Group D.

Germany plays Poland in Frankfurt on Sept. 4 and Scotland in Glasgow three days later. It then faces Ireland in Dublin on Oct. 1 and Georgia in Leipzig three days after that.