Stuart Pearce is adamant England must start fielding their strongest team at every tournament in order to create a winning mentality.
England Under 21 coach looks to the example of Spain
Stuart Pearce is adamant England must start fielding their strongest team at every tournament in order to create a winning mentality.
The England Under 21 coach has repeatedly expressed his frustration that he has never been able to select his best side during his time in charge.
The likes of Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and Kyle Walker have recently graduated to Fabio Capello's senior squad, but are still eligible to play for the Under 21s.
Pearce believes those players should still feature at tournament level for the Under 21s and has cited the example of other European nations who regularly pick their strongest squad.
Frustration
"Until we start putting out our strongest players out at all the tournaments we won't win," said Pearce.
"We're England. We're supposed to be one of the stronger powers in the world but until we start fielding our strongest team consistently we'll fail to win trophies and if we fail to win trophies, players won't know what it's like to be in a winning side.
"I see the Spanish, the French, the Germans turn up to major tournaments with all their players and continually we turn up with four or five of our best players missing.
"You can't win those tournaments at the younger age groups. I think Arsene Wenger made the comment last week when Wayne Rooney was suspended for the (Euro 2012) Championship, you can't win the tournament without your best players.
"That's become evident so it's a little bit of a frustration for me and it's something we've got to improve upon to make sure our better players are always at the major tournaments because the pool of talent in this country is not limitless."
Pearce singled out the example of Spain and Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata, who helped his country win the 2010 World Cup before he returned to the U21 set-up.
Mata was a key part of the team that won the 2011 European Under 21 Championship, but Pearce believes there would be uproar if a similar situation occurred in England.
"If I look back and see the U21 champions Spain, Juan Mata turned up with a World Cup winners' medal at senior level," Pearce said.
"Now what would be the media clamour in this country if one of our players that had already won a World Cup winners' medal had come back to play for the Under 21s?
"I know the answer already without asking the question.
"(The Under 21s) want to be players and they want to be in the senior squad and play at the top level.
"Whether they will want to come back to the Under 21s time will tell, but what we have to do is make sure that if they're in the England senior squad and if their form drops in any way, shape or form, I am there to support them."
