England U21s Coach says his players can stake a claim for a place in Euro 2013 squad this week

Stuart Pearce will be looking for his England Under-21s side to impress this week as they play their last two games before this summer’s European Championship.

The young Lions meet Romania at Wycombe on Thursday before heading down to Brighton where they will play Austria next Monday.

Pearce's players join up at St. George's Park on Monday to begin preparations for the matches, and the Coach says it’s an opportunity for them to stake a claim for a place in the squad for Israel.

“These games against Romania and Austria are our last before I have to name my 23-man squad for June,” he told TheFA.com.

“It is an important opportunity for the players to impress as they look to secure a seat on the plane. I have been very pleased with all the players who have been in the squad and it’s nice to see just how much they want to be involved.”

Pearce’s side are currently on a record-breaking run of seven straight victories, without conceding a goal, that stretches back to November 2011.

But he knows that there is even more hard work to come for his team in June with Italy, Israel and Norway in their group at the Finals.

“To win seven games on the bounce is no mean feat at whatever level you play, but when you consider the fact that we have kept clean sheets in each one of those games, and also qualified for Euro 2013, the achievement is all the more impressive,” said Pearce.

“But winning those games does not mean we have the right to win the next, or indeed the tournament this summer, so it is important that we continue to show the same attitude and desire that has got us to this point.

“We want to stretch that run to nine games before we fly to the Finals, and then continue winning in Israel.”

He added: “From day one our aim has been to win this competition, and the tests that lie ahead will only get harder, so will require us to keep getting better.

“I’ve taken the Under-21s to three tournaments so far and I know the standard that will be required if we are to reach our goal.

“So while what we have done in games and on the training ground in the last 18 months has been great, there is still work to do.”

Tickets Details for England U21s v Romania at Adams Park on 21 March 2013
Adults £10
Children (Under-16s) £5
Students (with NUS Card) £5
OAPS (over-65s) £5
Family Ticket (two adults and two children) £20

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