ENGLAND vs ROMANIA

Pearce keeps the faith

Thursday, 30 September, 2010

England Coach names Three Lions squad for Euro 2011 play-off.

England v Romania
UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2011
Play-Off First Leg
7.30pm, Friday 8 October 2010
Carrow Road, Norwich City FC
Ticket Details
£10 for adults and £5 for under 16s and over 60s.
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Stuart Pearce has selected a 23-man squad for England’s UEFA European Under-21s Championship play-offs with Romania.

The Three Lions first meet the Romanians in Norwich next Friday night for the first of two encounters for a place in the Finals in Denmark next summer. Then, four days later, they will travel to Botosani for the second leg.

And Pearce's squad looks very similar to the one that secured qualification from the group stage with wins over Portugal and Lithuania last month.

However, the Coach has named two experienced Under-21 players, Scott Loach and Kieran Gibbs, who have recently been part of Fabio Capello’s senior squad, while he has also picked Micah Richards who missed out on last month’s games through injury.

“There’s been a great team spirit within the squad this season and the results have been pleasing as well,” Pearce told TheFA.com. “Now we’re in the situation of a play-off after the pressure of last month’s games, but I think that will stand them in good stead for these matches against Romania.

“It will be tough for us,” he added. “We’ve watched Romania on DVD and they are obviously a very good side. But we’d like to think we are a good side too, so that’s why there is a consistency within the squad.

“More of them have gone out on loan and that will help them as individuals and fitness-wise when they turn up they should be much sharper.”