Head Coach pleased with squad competition ahead of Euro opener.

By Kadeem Simmonds

England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce feels the team have had a fantastic preparation for their opening European Championship game on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference in Denmark after the team’s second training session since their arrival on Wednesday, Pearce said: “It has been unbelievable. I mean it’s been a fantastic week in Spain and we had a good result on Sunday.

“The players have got a fantastic hotel and have worked diligently. My staff and the back-up staff for the have been the ones out in Denmark on maybe five or six occasions making sure the hotels are right, the training facilities are right, everything is perfect for the players and there are no excuses.

“When the game comes, we know we have prepared properly.”

Pearce, whose team finished runners-up Sweden two years ago, is pleased he has so much competition for places and insists he has no favourites.

“I'll do what I always do, I’ll pick the team on what I see with my eyes, how well they have done for me over a period of time and how well they are looking in training,” he added.

“I’ve got no favourites in the squad, they are all my favourites and I’ll pick the team accordingly.

“We have so much competition for places that the captain has to make sure he can get into the XI. Once I pick that XI, I’ll then pick a captain from there so we will wait and see.

“But I mean, credit to the players for that, they are putting so much pressure on each other for wanting to play and wanting to start. I have so many options within the squad that I’ll wait before I pick my team first before the captain comes out of it.”

The Under-21s get their Euro campaign underway on Sunday, when they face Spain (KO 7.45pm BST).