England

v

Romania

 

 

Nationwide Under-21 International Friendly
7.45pm, Tuesday 21 August 2007
Bristol City FC, Ashton Gate
Ticket Hotline 0871 222 6666
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Stuart Pearce is ready to get back to business with England Under-21s after signing a two-year agreement as the new full-time coach.

The former England full-back, who earned 78 caps as a player, lead the Three Lions to the Semi-Final of this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship, only to see his side edged out by hosts Holland 13-12 on penalties.

Now, four weeks after England's return from Holland, Pearce is looking to get his teeth stuck into his new role, which will not only see him take the reigns of the Under-21s, but also build links with clubs and the other England age groups.

"I’ve had a few weeks off now, since the tournament, and I’m looking forward to getting back in," Pearce told TheFA.com.

"The excitement of a new season has been generated, and by the time we get into the back end of next week, they’ll be some good pre-season games that I can watch.

"Our next game is on 21 August and that will come round very quickly,"

He added: "With it being a full-time situation now, I'll be able to get around the clubs and do a job that forges links with the clubs.

"You have to have links with the senior squad, too. The manager needs to know who is waiting to come through, who I might think is good enough to step up.

"The other side of that is having a good understanding of the players in the U19s and U17s, the age groups below. They need to know that the more they see my face around training and at matches, the more they’ll see that there’s a progression."

Nine of Pearce's squad from the European Championship will still be available for the next campaign, and the ex-Manchester City manager believes that his knowledge of those players will help him build a squad to help carry England to the 2009 Finals.

Pearce also says that the experience of tournament football that the young Lions gained last month will help them become better international footballers.

"The Championships gave me a great insight into the players who are able to represent the Under-21s this year and I think there is a very good group of players available to us that can form the nucleus for a great two-year period," he said.

"Being involved in four very contrasting games, during tournament football, will benefit everyone who was in the squad, no matter how much football they had, to be involved in a tournament like that was an ideal learning curve for them.

"I’m excited by the fresh challenge of this job and hopefully can take the country forward to another championship in two years time."

Pearce's first game of the new season is against Romania at Bristol City on Tuesday 21 August.

Tickets are on sale now priced just £10 adults and £5 concessions from the Ticket Hotline 0871 222 6666 or in person from Ashton Gate.