France v England
Date: Wednesday, 26 March
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Venue: Stade de France
BBC Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website
Fabio Capello believes Wednesday's game against France will be the toughest of his side's three friendlies ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

After the French encounter, England are set to play the United States in May and then the Czech Republic in August.

"It's going to be our hardest match," said England coach Capello. "France are a good team and we're playing in Paris, where there will be a good atmosphere.

"It will be a good test, it's a good base to start from."

The match with France is Capello's second game in charge since taking over from Steve McClaren in December 2007.

In his opening match, Capello led England to a 2-1 victory over Switzerland at Wembley.

Capello has confirmed that midfielder David Beckham will earn his 100th cap in Paris to become the fifth England player to reach that milestone for his country.

Beckham, who now plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in America, was left out of Capello's squad for the match against Switzerland but now gets a chance to stake a claim to be involved for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

It is not clear, however, whether Beckham will start the game, for which Capello will name his team later on Wednesday.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will lead out the England team at the Stade de France after being named as England captain for the first time.

The appointment of Ferdinand as skipper, instead of the fit-again John Terry, continues Capello's policy of rotating the captaincy ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

And Capello is expected to name different captains for the friendlies with the USA on 28 May and the Czech Republic on 20 August before making a decision a permanent holder of the role.

Both matches will take place at Wembley.

England's World Cup qualifying campaign begins with the trip to Andorra on 6 September before the away clash against Croatia on 10 September.