Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce has backed England to bounce back from their Euro 2020 heartbreak and “have a real tilt” at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
And, as someone who knows all too well what it’s like to be involved in a penalty shootout for your country, he also defended the choice of spot-kick takers by manager Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions were beaten by Italy on penalties in the final at Wembley after the sides were locked at 1-1 following extra-time.
But former Reds and England full-back Pearce said the overwhelming response to the nation’s showing in the tournament should be one of pride.
“We’ve gone all the way to the last game. In the end we’ve ended up being beaten by the best side in the tournament,” Pearce told talkSPORT.
“I think the players knew they were so close. The only emotion I have is pride in what they have achieved. They have given the nation a massive lift.
“I think it is a fantastic achievement. A major step forward. We’ve beaten a decent Czech side, Croatia and the Germans on the way to the final.
“Next year, I am looking at the squad of players and thinking that for a lot of players in there this experience will have done them good. Next year we can have a real tilt at the World Cup.”
Luke Shaw fired England into a dream lead inside 117 seconds but Roberto Mancini’s men grew into Sunday’s final, with Leonardo Bonucci levelling to take the match to extra-time.
It ended 1-1 under the arch as the match went to spot-kicks and, just like Euro 96, the last major international competition played on home soil 25 years ago, it ended in penalty heartache.
Pearce was at the heart of that tournament, including banishing his Three Lions penalty demons in the quarter-final shootout against Spain, after failing to score in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against Germany.
It was Southgate who missed the crucial effort against the same opponents six years later as the team fell at the last four stage.
He took responsibility after Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were unable to net on Sunday night.
But Pearce said: “When we won the last two penalty shoot-outs before last night nobody was complaining about the process in picking the players to take them.
“Jadon, Marcus and Bukayo look like strong characters. These three boys will spring back. Our profession is tough at times but you have got to be resilient.”
