Pearce: We must cause problems
Saturday, 18 June, 2011
Stuart Pearce is finalising plans for Czech Republic encounter.
Click to watch the FATV video from Saturday's press conference and training session
Stuart Pearce believes that England can exploit their opponents weaknesses when they meet Czech Republic in their final Group B game at the UEFA Under-21 Championship on Sunday.
The Three Lions need a win to reach the semi-finals against a side who have lost just once in the last two years.
That defeat came on Wednesday night against Spain and Pearce, whose team sit on two points after two draws hopes his side can maintain their unbeaten record and progress to the last four for the third tournament in succession.
"We've looked at the Czechs, we feel as though we know there are certain positional situations that we can exploit, so we've worked on that today," said Pearce. "We go into every game trying to win. We're undefeated at this moment in time, so we hope to come out of Sunday's match undefeated having won a game.
"They certainly got a bit of a runaround by the Spanish, I think, having watched the game, but they've got three points in the bag, so that puts them in a stronger position in the group than we are at the moment.
"It's a really tough group we're in, we knew it'd go to the last game. All four teams are in the same situation. They've got to go into the last games and get results.
"There is not one team out of the four or us that can afford to get beaten. If you get beaten, you go home, as simple as that. That applies to the Spanish as much as us."
He added: "We have to make sure our movement within the shape of our team's quick enough to cause the Czechs problems and put them under pressure with bookings."
Two players from Pearce's 22-man squad missed out of Saturday's training session in Fredericia ahead of their trip to Viborg, with Chris Smalling and Henri Lansbury back at the hotel, but the Coach says he almost has his starting line-up in his mind.
"I've got one position that I'm going to sleep on tonight," said Pearce. "The players are aware of that now."
"Chris has got a little touch of tonsilitis - he'll be no problem tomorrow, and Henri just rolled his ankle - he'll be fine again tomorrow as well. It's just precautionary.
"You've got to have confidence in your team. I've got confidence in the ability of our squad to go and deliver a result and I always have done."
Click to watch the FATV video from Saturday's press conference and training session