"There are 60 million people back home who want us to win something," Pearce said.

"The scenes of euphoria I saw in 1990 as a player told me this could never be replicated at club level on any scale. Why any player wouldn’t want to be part of it all is beyond me.

"I know the players. You tell Milner to go and have a rest. It is impossible.

"Some managers want them to come, others don’t, but on the whole everyone has been very co- operative."

Pearce has an injury concern over Nedum Onuoha, who could be named captain against Finland for tonight’s game if he passes a fitness test on his thigh.

Skipper Steven Taylor misses the tournament through injury, along with Danny Welbeck, Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon and Jamie O’Hara, but Pearce is happy with his squad.

Pearce does not have such happy memories of Sweden, describing Euro 92 as "the worst tournament I have been involved in" after England failed to get past the group stage.

To avoid more disappointment, preparations have included a penalty shoot-out after every training session.

The aim is to lift the trophy in Malmo on June 29 but also to get England’s youngsters used to tournament football in the same way Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Francesco Totti and Fabio Cannavaro did at previous Under-21 tournaments before winning the World Cup in 2006.

With no other football on at the moment, the spotlight is now on Pearce and his team.

"We are aware of the coverage," said midfielder Craig Gardner. "It’s a massive tournament and the season has finished, so we are the only team playing and the whole of the country are going to be watching us.

"Everyone in the camp is relaxed, the spirits are high and everyone is really confident. We just want to get out there now."