VIDEO: Lions target Finals
Tuesday, 07 September, 2010
Welbeck and Albrighton aiming for a trip to Denmark next summer.
Jamie Bradbury
Click here for a video interview with Marc Albrighton and Stuart Pearce.
Danny Welbeck said England Under-21s belong at next summer's European Championships, after he fired them a step closer with a double in the 3-0 win over Lithuania in Colchester.
Manchester United striker Welbeck, who is currently on loan at Sunderland, broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a classy finish and scored his second in the dying moments after Marc Albrighton had doubled the advantage.
England will learn their play-off opponents on Friday and man-of-the-match Welbeck, 19, believes Stuart Pearce's side must make it to the tournament in Denmark next summer.
"Obviously we're delighted - the hard work is the get into the play-offs and we're there," he said. "Now we need to be playing at the Championships.
"It would have been disappointing if we hadn't done it. I'm quite disappointed in myself not to get a couple of extra goals but I'm happy with the brace and to go home happy."
Aston Villa winger Albrighton added: "Everyone was buzzing when the manager said we were through. We were absolutely delighted but the hard work starts now.
"The game opened up in the second-half. The boys remained patient and we knew we would get the goals in the end. We had to keep plugging away and get the result.
"It's been a great start to the season for me personally and the goal today topped things off - I go back to my club happy."