The FA have defended the timing of their friendly against Hungary.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has voiced his opposition to the August 11 encounter between England and Hungary at Wembley, questioning why players who had spent so long together at the World Cup in South Africa needed more time in each other's company quite so soon.

Redknapp is concerned at the impact it is likely to have on his own preparations for Tottenham's vital Champions League qualifying tie a week later, and the opening Premier League game with Manchester City on August 14, when he will have just two days to prepare.

"England are by no means unique in playing a friendly match on 11 August, since it is an international date scheduled by FIFA, with almost every other nation playing on the same night," said an FA spokesman.

"With a qualification campaign for Euro 2012 beginning just three weeks later, it is an important friendly opportunity to prepare for the competitive games with Bulgaria and Switzerland.

"Not making use of this date provided by FIFA in the calendar would put us at a disadvantage over those countries we face in September."