The game against the Netherlands will be a test for Capello's squad

Both teams have won all seven games in qualifying so far, and the Dutch have already clinched a spot in next year's tournament in South Africa.

England can secure their berth with a win over Croatia at Wembley next month.

Now both teams are looking to find out how they do against top competition.

"The game is a good chance for us against one really important country,'' England coach Fabio Capello said.

"It will be a good test before we play Croatia.''

Big game

The last time England met one of Europe's traditional football powers was in February, when Capello's side ended a nine-game winning streak with a 2-0 loss to Spain in another friendly.

Spain is the only other team with a perfect record in qualifying, but has only played six matches so far.

The Dutch will field the same young side that has looked strong throughout qualifying, and some of the team's top stars will be using the game to send messages to their club teams.

Forward Arjen Robben and midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart have all had faced limited playing time at Real Madrid amid mounting transfer speculation.

"There is very little they can do to help the situation,'' Dutch coach Bert Marwijk said.

"We have come this far together so I don't see any reason why I should drop them now.''

England will be without Gerrard who has pulled out with a groin injury

Familiar faces

The England players will be facing a lot of familiar faces as Dutch strikers Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel of Liverpool, Arsenal's Robin van Persie, and Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong are all expected to start.

Mark van Bommel of Bayern Munich is out with a foot injury, while Dutch captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst has a knee problem.

For England, Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey are the likely starting strikers, as Michael Owen and Peter Crouch were left off the squad.

Frank Lampard is likely to start in midfield alongside Gareth Barry and David Beckham, who flew out from Los Angeles for the match.

Injured England players include Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, who pulled out with a groin injury, and goalkeepers David James and Ben Foster.

Capello summoned Joe Hart as a replacement for Foster.

With the English Premier League season due to start this weekend, right back Glen Johnson said many players be treating Wednesday's meeting "as another preseason game.''

But he said the match would be good experience for the group.

"We will be taking it as a friendly, but obviously it is important to win,'' he said.

"It's good to put down a marker.''

The Netherlands and England have tied three times in friendly matches since 2001, with the Dutch winning once.

The Netherlands face Japan in another international friendly on September 5 in the eastern city of Enschede before travelling to Scotland four days later for their last Group 9 match.

England have a friendly against Slovenia on September 5 before the Croatia match on September 9.

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