I'm ready for Euro 2012 and the Olympics, insists Stuart Pearce

By Andrew Warshaw

April 25 – Team GB head coach Stuart Pearce insists he is perfectly capable of combining London 2012 with leading England at the 2012 European Championship finals if asked to do both jobs.

The English Football Association have yet to name a full-time replacement for Fabio Capello amid growing speculation that Pearce, who has been doing the role on a caretaker basis, may yet take charge in Poland and Ukraine – then go straight into managing Team GB at the Olympics.

“I don’t think it would be a problem,” said Pearce (pictured above).

“Whether it is me or the next man through the door, the preparations are all in place.

“If it’s me, I’m ready to do the Euros first.

“It’ll put me in tournament mode.

“In some ways it would be a benefit rather than a hindrance.”

Britain’s group is arguably the toughest in the Olympic men’s draw, with Senegal and Uruguay both lying in wait.

But Pearce is looking forward to the challenge.

“There might not be another Great Britain Olympic football team in our lifetime,” he said.

Critics of an all-British team may well take a ‘just as well’ view.

That, Pearce insisted, is the wrong reaction.

He believes the feel good factor will soon kick in.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our sport under the Olympic umbrella,” Pearce said.

The final 18-man squad will be announced in mid-May – a week after the 23-strong party for Euro 2012 is also made public.

Will the Games include David Beckham (pictured above) who turns 37 next week?

Pearce refused to be drawn.

“Having three overage players allows you to strengthen in certain positions,” he told a press conference immediately following yesterday’s draw.

“We’ll have a look at the youngsters first and see where we are short.”

Pearce nevertheless conceded he will fly to the United States to watch Beckham in action next week for Los Angeles Galaxy.

“David Beckham will be treated exactly the same as any other individual, whether it is young or overage,” he said.

“Form and fitness will dictate what the make-up of the squad will be.

“David falls into the same category.

“I will pick the strongest possible squad I can.

“I will know a bit more when I go to the States to see what form [Beckham] is in.

“He’s made the shortlist and he has been a great ambassador for this country and the Olympics, but that’s no recommendation that he will get in the squad and that’s fair and square across the board for all players.”

Pearce (pictured above, left with Team GB women’s coach Hope Powell) refuses to be pressurised into identifying how many non-Englishmen might be in his squad.

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations are totally against their players being included for fear – misplaced according to FIFA – of losing their individual status within world football.

“Everyone will have star quality but I’ll pick the squad on merit,” stressed Pearce who declined to say how many of his current shortlist of 80 are non-English.

“The squad may not reflect every home nation and celebrity, but they will be the best 18 players who have the best opportunity to deliver a gold.

“That’s my only criteria.

“It’s of no consideration to me what nationality they are.”

While sympathising with club managers who don’t want their pre-season preparations disrupted, Pearce is in no doubt which is the more prestigious priority.

“If I was still playing now, I’d prefer to be playing at Old Trafford or Wembley and hopefully competing for a medal, then going back to my club,” he said.

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