Stuart Pearce tells England Under-21s: Winnning is a drug

Stuart Pearce sat opposite his German conquerors in the drug testing room after England's 1990 World Cup defeat and learned a painful lesson he will pass on to his young charges this week.

Germany had just clinched a place in the final in Italy, but there was no celebrating from the old enemy. Just two rivals sitting in silence, a job only half done, wanting more.

It was a demonstration of the ruthless, driven mentality Pearce is desperate for the England Under-21 footballers to adopt.

Pearce leads the team against Germany today. His squad were mere toddlers, a couple not even born, when he suffered the most instructive and destructive moments of his career, but the personal history will be passed on.

Tonight's clash in Halmstad is less crucial than previous battles as England are already in Friday's semi-final. However, a win for England would ensure they topped Group B and could knock Germany out of the Euro 2009 tournament.

But for Pearce another crack at the Germans always sharpens the senses because of the heartache the country has inflicted during his career. "It never mellows," said Pearce when asked about his big tournament defeats to Germany, including Euro 96, both on penalty shoot-outs.

"I think about those games because I draw experience from them. I will think about them when we go into the game against Germany and I will think about it when we go into a semi-final on Friday.

"I can tell them I learned what the pressure was like from those defeats. The importance of the penalty shoot-out, and I learned the mentality of the two German players in the drugs test after the defeat in 1990.

"The two players opposite me showed no enjoyment at getting to the final. You couldn't have told who had won the semi-final or who had lost.

"Their mentality was that they had achieved nothing. Their big prize was the following game. I have to make sure my lessons are passed on, so players are ready when we go into semi-finals and finals.

"I think the Germans had some sympathy for myself and Peter Shilton sitting opposite from them. That was always a massive lesson for me on how to conduct yourself.

"Two years ago at this Under21 tournament the Mark Nobles of this world were in tears when they went out in the semis. The four players who were here last time have told the others about that and my squad knows exactly what it takes to win."

Pearce has the luxury of resting players with injury niggles including Micah Richards, Kieron Gibbs, Gabby Agbonlahor, and James Milner is suspended.

But there will be no easing off.

"We know we are one of the four sides who will be in the semis but we still want to beat Germany," added Pearce. I want to keep the momentum going by winning matches.

"There is a DNA about the German game, just as there is with the English game, and they will be an extremely well organised outfit.

"They need at least a point out of the game to go further in this championship and they, like us, will fancy their chances of going all the way. The German mentality is that they are here to win this tournament. Our mentality is the same."

Pearce has been handed a new two-year contract to stay on as U-21 boss, but says he is nowhere near experienced enough yet to be Fabio Capello's successor, feeling "inept" in his company.

He added: "The England manager's job is the pinnacle of anyone's career. When I look at Fabio every day and watch him work, I realise how inept I am as a manager.

"I'm a manager who has been in control of a team for maybe 150 matches over a four-year period. For me, that's ridiculously lightly experienced.

"As I saw in my time at Manchester City, in the first six months I was lauded as next England manager. Three months after that and a couple of defeats and it's all change. Football is so boom and bust it's frightening. I don't work like that."

Pearce does have a long-term ambition to be manager of the senior England team and said: "Two years down the line from City I'm written back on again. If I lose the semi-final I'll be written back off again. I've got a long-term plan that I keep to myself.

"I've really enjoyed the last two years working for the FA and I'd like to stay for another two years. Trevor Brooking wants me to stay and I'm happy to do that as I feel I'm learning. The day I stop learning I might have to go somewhere else for another challenge to keep on the learning curve."

Probable Teams:

Germany
Neuer Beck Hoewedes Boateng Schmelzer Castro Khedira Aogo Marin Ozil Dejagah

England
Hart Stearman Tomkins Mancienne Taylor Gardner Noble Muamba Johnson Walcott Campbell

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