Pearce and England set for acid test
Interim boss and fringe players can take a step towards the Euros by impressing against Holland
ENGLAND vs HOLLAND
ENGLAND caretaker manager Stuart Pearce has urged his squad to cast aside the negativity surrounding the state of the national team and use tonight’s friendly against Holland to make concrete cases for Euro 2012 selection.
Without a permanent head coach or skipper the Three Lions, who must also make do without a clutch of key first team players, are in a state of flux ahead of Holland’s first visit to Wembley since they were thrashed 4-1 by an Alan Shearer-inspired England side at Euro 96.
Pearce, who assumed the role of head coach on an interim basis earlier this month following Fabio Capello’s resignation over the Football Association’s decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy, must make do against the 2010 World Cup finalists minus the likes of Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent and Glen Johnson.
But the former England left-back, who confirmed he had not applied for the full-time vacancy but is also effectively on trial tonight after outlining his determination to continue in the role through to the Euros, has challenged the less established members of his squad to launch a bid to be included in the 23-man party that will travel to Ukraine and Poland in June.
He said: “We’re in the home run for the (European) Championships and we have to find out about one or two in and around the squad and it’s a great opportunity to find that out, playing against one of the tournament favourites.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity, that’s how we see it. I think they will acquit themselves very well. Some will stake a claim for the summer. I hope the majority will.”
Liverpool right-back Johnson pulled out of the squad yesterday, meaning Manchester City’s Micah Richards is almost certain to start in his place and make his first England appearance since November 2010.
Bent was ruled out for three months with ankle ligament damage on Monday, leaving Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck, Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge and Sunderland’s Fraizer Campbell with an opportunity to impress.
Pearce added: “We’re three friendlies away from the first game in the group so I think this is vital. Every time we get the group of players together we have to hit the floor running.”
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? | ENGLAND’S ROOKIE FORWARDS
England’s striker resources have been stretched to breaking point by the withdrawals of Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent, leaving Stuart Pearce to pick from three rookies whose international pedigree is minuscule compared to their Dutch counterparts.
Fraizer Campbell
(Sunderland)
Caps: 0; Goals: 0
Daniel Sturridge
(Chelsea)
Caps: 1; Goals: 0
Danny Welbeck
(Manchester United)
Caps: 3; Goals: 0
Total caps: 4; Total goals: 0
Robin van Persie
(Arsenal)
Caps: 61; Goals: 25
Dirk Kuyt
(Liverpool)
Caps: 84; Goals: 24
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
(Schalke)
Caps: 48; Goals: 30
Total caps: 193; Total goals: 79