STUART Pearce revealed after the crushing European Under-21 Championship final defeat to Germany that he will continue in his role for the 2011 campaign.
Pearce agreed personal terms on the new deal before travelling out to Sweden and Sir Trevor Brooking brought out the paperwork for the 47-year-old to sign. The formalities were completed before the semi-final victory over Sweden when England ended th
eir penalty shoot-out hoodoo – but Pearce's youngsters could not get the better of Germany. "I don't subscribe to boom and bust," said Pearce after the painful 4-0 defeat at Swedbank Stadion.
"If we won I wasn't going to be the best coach in the world. Losing chews me up but it spurs me on to be a better coach and manager. It's as simple as that. Just before the semi-final I signed a two-year deal. I enjoy where I work, my employees and the players I work with. Why would you walk away from that?"
Pearce will continue to assist seniors manager Fabio Capello, who was travelling back from the Confederations Cup in South Africa and could not make it to Sweden after missing his connecting flight. He missed England's youngsters fall behind midway through the first half when Gonzalo Castro struck. Scott Loach's blunder from Mesut Ozil's 35-yard free-kick accounted for the second. The Watford goalkeeper, standing in for the suspended Joe Hart, wasn't helped by the English wall falling apart as Werder Bremen playmaker Ozil swerved the ball in as Loach fell too far to his right before getting a palm on the ball and helping it in.
Sandro Wagner then finished through Loach's legs before adding the fourth in the 84th minute, curling into the far corner neatly following a counter-attack.
"We started very brightly as a team, the first goal came against the run of play and changed the game," Pearce said. "It suited them to counter-attack.
"I have to congratulate Germany, to win any final is an achievement and to win 4-0 in it is an achievement.
"We're a bit frustrated as a team but we have to improve and in two years time we have to be one better. We are in the top two in Europe and we have to be in the top one."
Pearce's frustration almost boiled over. He clenched his fist when Sebastian Boenisch clattered into James Milner, raising his hand at the full-back but holding himself back.
"I was trying to get him to his feet," said Pearce, who also used colourful language with the fourth official.
The former Nottingham Forest full-back was not helped by Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fraizer Campbell also being suspended, meaning Theo Walcott was isolated as a lone striker.
"It wasn't helpful but from the offset we said it would be a 23-man squad," Pearce said.
"We lost three players by the final but that is not an excuse. We must learn lessons. From this squad 50 per cent will go on for the next campaign. For those who have finished, they have served the Under-21s fantastically well.
"I've just asked them of doing me the honour of meeting me at the hotel. I have to speak to them as a group and tell them how well they have conducted themselves over a two-year period.
"I will speak with the players that will finish and thank them. Then I will speak to the younger players and tell them what the expectations are."
Germany U21: Neuer, Beck, Howedes, Boateng, Boenisch, Hummels (Aogo 83), Johnson (Schwaab 68), Castro, Khedira, Ozil (Schmelzer 89), Wagner. Subs not used: Fromlowitz, Ebert, Marin, Grote, Adlung, Ben-Hatira, Ede, Sippel. Booked: Boenisch, Wagner.
England U21: Loach, Cranie (Gardner 80), Richards, Onuoha (Mancienne 46), Gibbs, Cattermole, Muamba (Rodwell 77), Noble, Milner, Walcott, Johnson. Subs not used: Lewis, Taylor, Stearman, Tomkins, Driver, Rose.
