Eriksson tips Pearce for England's top job as U21s face up to Germany

Published on Sunday 28 June 2009 23:14

GERMANY U21 v ENGLAND U21 European Under-21 Championship At New Stadium, Malmo, today, kick-off 7:45pm

FORMER England manager Sven Goran Eriksson believes Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce can make the step up to eventually succeed Fabio Capello.

Pearce, who took over as Under-21 coach under Eriksson, has guided the youngsters to tonight's European Championships final against Germany in Sweden. And Eriksson – sacked as Mexico boss recently – thinks the former England defender is well equipped to manage the senior side one day.

"Reaching the final in the European Under-21 competition is fantastic and I think they have the chance to win it as well," he said. "He (Pearce] has proven himself with the Under-21s. Why shouldn't he be able to do it with the senior team as well? I think he is capable.

"Of course it is a big step – it is another kind of player in the senior team – but I think he can do it in the future."

Eriksson believes Pearce's current role could put him in pole position to succeed Capello.

"Why not?" he said. "But let's hope for England that Capello will stay for a long time, because that would mean he is successful at the next World Cup."

As for his own future, Eriksson said: "I would like to return to the Premier League but I think if you put that question to more or less every manager in the world, then they would like to do it as well. I am not the only one."

Eriksson said he has not received any offers from England in recent months.

"No, not really," he said. "Very few clubs change managers so we'll have to wait and see in the future."

Pearce himself has insisted that he has no interest in the history of games between England and Germany ahead of tonight's match in Malmo following their respective semi-final victories over Sweden and Italy.

Pearce missed a penalty for England against West Germany in the 1990 World Cup semi-final and although the former Nottingham Forest captain was successful against the Germans in Euro 96, the outcome was the same as their opponents triumphed on spot-kicks.

However, the former Manchester City and Nottingham Forest boss said: "Any matches in the past are in the past. My only concern is the match (tonight]. That it the only history we will create. Any matches gone by are consigned to history now, they have no relevance."

Opposite number Horst Hrubesch, though, admits he hopes the rivalry continues. "I hope so," he said. "That it is the same situation it has always been because there have been so many good matches between England and Germany."

England's team selection has been hit by the enforced absences through suspension of goalkeeper Joe Hart, who yesterday had an appeal to have his yellow card against Sweden overturned, and forwards Fraizer Campbell and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Pearce, though, is happy with the team's build-up, although he refused to be drawn over his line-up.

He said: "In regard to preparation, it has been fantastic. We have 23 fit players, one or two on suspensions who won't feature. But for a coach coming into a final to have anyone fully fit and in my eyes in good form, we can't ask for any more. We never select the side before the morning of the game. In my mind I know who is playing and the players will know it tomorrow."

Pearce must choose between Scott Loach and Joe Lewis to deputise for Hart, who recently joined Birmingham on loan from Manchester City. Loach started against Germany in the group stage when Pearce rested his first-choice players. The suspension of Agbonlahor and Campbell means Theo Walcott, who plays much of the time on the flanks, is expected to play as a central striker, with the Arsenal youngster predicting the position will be his long-term role.

Pearce believes Walcott's pace will be a problem for the Germans even though the 20-year-old has rarely played centrally.

"I probably will end up being a striker," Walcott said.

"The boss at Arsenal (Arsene Wenger) said I would have probably played a little bit more up front last season if I'd not got injured, like in FA Cup games and Carling Cup games. But I'll play anywhere as long as I'm on that pitch."

Starting on the wing and ending up as a striker was the path of Gunners legend Thierry Henry, with Walcott inheriting his number 14 shirt.

He was also given 14 when he made himself available for the Under-21 squad, despite establishing himself in the seniors.

"I didn't expect to get it but it's an absolute result," he added. "It doesn't really matter what number is on the back. As long as it's an England shirt I'm happy."

Walcott and his team-mates will be wearing white shirts tonight, after Germany's players decided to wear a red strip despite being the "home" team in Malmo. England wore red at Wembley against Germany in 1966 and were expected to do so again tonight.

Germany wore white when the sides met in the group stage but they have decided for a change in a move that could be construed as mind-games.

"We discussed it with the players, I asked them what colour they wanted to play in and they said red," said Hrubesch. "I can't imagine why they chose it. It is not psychological."