England at King Power Stadium

Remembering When England Last Played On Filbert Way

King Power Stadium has staged some iconic moments in its time - few more memorable than a full England international against Serbia & Montenegro in 2003.
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With the Three Lions set to return to Filbert Way after 15 years away on Tuesday night for a friendly clash with Switzerland (8pm BST kick-off), memories will come flooding back for Leicester City fans.

There were several links to the Club that day, some which would only become evident as time took its course over the following decade.

With former striker Emile Heskey wearing the captain's armband in the second half, Ian Walker, then Leicester's No.1 goalkeeper, was on the substitutes bench, although he did not appear.

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England's starting XI at King Power Stadium

England's starting XI included former Fox Emile Heskey.

He was joined in the home dugout by future Foxes manager Sven-Göran Eriksson and forward Darius Vassell, who went on to enjoy a two-year stay with City between 2010-12.

It was a heady summers evening in Leicester, one which paid witness to an assured 2-1 victory, courtesy of goals from Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole.

There was also a cameo England debut for John Terry, then 22-years-old, as he replaced Gareth Southgate, the man who would go on to lead his country to the FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals in 2018.

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Sven-Göran Eriksson

Sven-Göran Eriksson would return to the King Power Stadium dugout as City's manager in 2010.

As City prepared for their maiden top flight season at their new home, King Power Stadium, an exciting home friendly against FC Barcelona was lying on the horizon for Micky Adams' men.

Despite his pedigree as a former Tottenham Hotspur shot-stopper, Walker's inclusion in Eriksson's squad was rare considering he had competed the previous campaign in the old First Division.

With Foxes fans eagerly awaiting the new season, the stop-by visit of England's UEFA Euro 2004 hopefuls attracted a crowd in excess of 30,000 to Filbert Way.

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Steven Gerrard

Future Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate congratulates Steven Gerrard on his opener in Leicester.

In what was a warm-up fixture for the following Wednesday's Euro qualifier against Slovakia, Eriksson elected to make 10 changes throughout the fixture, a common motif of his tenure.

It resulted in four players being handed the captain's armband - Heskey, Michael Owen, Phil Neville and Jamie Carragher - and 21 stars getting run-outs for their country.

Serbia and Montenegro, as the now independent states were known between 1992 and 2006, made 11 changes of their own, resulting in a relaxed, carnival atmosphere inside the Filbert Way bowl.

Liverpool midfielder Gerrard gave England the lead on 34 minutes, but Nenad Jestrović's equaliser necessitated Cole to unleash a brilliant free-kick eight minutes from the end to seal victory. 

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Joe Cole

A late winner from Joe Cole sent the home fans home in buoyant mood.

During a second half which may be recalled by some for paper airplanes jovially being hurled onto the turf by the spectators, nine players were introduced from the bench, namely; Vassell, Terry, Cole, Carragher, James Beattie, Gareth Barry, Jermaine Jenas, Owen Hargreaves and Wayne Rooney.

Tuesday's visit of Switzerland is unlikely to pay witness to such sweeping changes, however, and City fans will be hoping to see Harry Maguire in action on his home turf. 

With enthusiasm for the national side higher than many can remember, following a hugely successful World Cup campaign in Russia, don't miss your chance to see Southgate's boys in action. 

Tickets remain available for the encounter, via the FA.com/Tickets website.

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