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Stuart Pearce Gives his Views on Euro 2024
Stuart Pearce discusses England's Euro 2024 prospects, Jude Bellingham's potential Golden Boot, managerial successors, and reflects on his unexpected football career.
🏆 Stuart Pearce's Euro 2024 Predictions! 🏆
🏴 Backs England to win Euro 2024.
⚽ Jude Bellingham tipped to win the Golden Boot.
👔 Jurgen Klopp suggested as a successor to Gareth Southgate.
🛡️ England’s squad depth and key players praised, especially Luke Shaw.
Q: Who do you think will win Euro 2024?
SP: “I think England will win Euro 2024. I think the building process is looking good. Some of the young players are ready, I think England are going to be my choice to win the Euros.”
EURO2024 Betting Odds
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Q: Who do you think will win the Golden Boot at Euro 2024?
SP: “I think the Golden Boot winner at Euro 2024 will be Jude Bellingham. I think he's playing a more advanced role for both club and country at the moment and I think Jude will be the Golden Boot winner. If England are going to be successful, he's going to have to be scoring.”
EURO2024 Golden Boot Betting Odds
All odds tables on this page are sourced live from the displayed bookmakers. Once the market is closed, no odds box will appear.
Q: Who are your dark horses to win Euro 2024?
A: “I think my dark horses will, believe it or not, be Hungary. I think they've had some really good results over the last couple of years. They've beaten England, they've beaten Germany.
“I think the group they're in with Germany, Scotland and Switzerland. I think it's a group that they can comfortably get out of and gain confidence doing so.”
Q: What will be the key elements for England winning the tournament?
SP: “I think the key elements for England going all the way is certainly going to be the availability of all their better players. No injuries between now and the summer, but that applies to all the nations.
“I think Luke Shaw being fit and available is a big thing. I think if he's available playing left-back and we don't get any other key injuries to key players then I think we'll be okay.”
Q: What is your prediction for England vs Serbia?
SP: “I think that will be a narrow result. I think it will be an odd goal victory. the first games of tournaments and normally pretty tight affairs. I see England winning it without a doubt, but I think it will be a tough fixture. I'll probably air on 2-1.”
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Q: What is your prediction for England vs Denmark?
SP: “I think we'll be stronger for having a game under our belt as a team, I see us winning that 2-0. I don't know whether the Danes have one or two key players that are ageing slightly.”
🎤 Thomas Sorensen Exclusive Interview and Euro 2024 Predictions
Q: What is your prediction for England vs Slovenia?
SP: “Whenever you see a last group game we might be able to change a few players, normally it means that you won't be able to and you'll need to win the last game, that's the nature of tournament football.
“But I see us winning all three games, we’ve got the capability to win all three games. I see us winning that one 3-0.”
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Q: Is Luke Shaw a huge step-up on the other left-backs available for England?
By Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125862292SP: “I think Luke Shaw is England’s standout left-back. He’s been very good at the tournaments he’s been to but suffering with his injuries which have been a big problem.
“I think we miss him when he’s not avaliable. He’s also played at left centre back for Manchester United and been outstanding, so you have the option of that as well as in a back three.
“I think he's an outstanding talent, I really do, and someone that knows exactly what it's like to play in major tournaments as well.
“I had him with me in the under-21s and I just think he's got better and better and matured as a player. So I've got my fingers crossed he'll be fit for the summer.”
Q: What are your best memories of the European Championships?
SP: “I played in two European championships, one in Sweden, which I don't think we had the best of squads for in 1992.
“The eventual winners in Denmark hadn't actually qualified and ended up sort of turning up late to the tournament and winning it.
“We were close to going through into the semis and then managed to contrive to lose to the hosts, Sweden. But from a memory point of view, I just think it was so tight, at that tournament the margins are so small between qualification and going home.
Hosting a major tournament in England was incredible! It galvanized the public and we had an amazing team with real leaders like Shearer and Gascoigne. The match against the Dutch was the best I've ever played in an England shirt.
“The big one for me was Euro 96, to have a major tournament in our country, to host it and it being such a success. How it galvanised the public was incredible.
“I knew that Euro 96 was going to be my last major tournament. I'd been to a couple of tournaments before, a World Cup and a Euros. I knew exactly what tournament football looked like and I knew that I didn't have much time on the clock either as an international player.
“So I probably embraced it that little bit more, enjoyed it that little bit more. I think the team did as well.
“I think there were a lot of players in that team that the public embraced if you like, Paul Gascoigne being one of them. You know, they got behind me brilliantly, but we had Tony Adams, Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, some real leaders.
“Terry Venables galvanised a really good team playing a brand of football. The game against the Dutch was probably the best game of football I've ever played collectively in an England shirt, I think we were superb that night.”
Q: How do you look back on your international career?
SP: “In all honesty, I never thought I'd get to a standard of being an international player. Bear in mind, I'm a tradesman, I'm an electrician by trade and didn't come into the game until I was 21 years old.
“I'd done my apprenticeship in the borough of Brent where Wembley is housed. The nearest I thought I'd ever get to Wembley is probably working there in the bar during international games and stuff like that.
“To actually get the opportunity to play for your country and then play at a World Cup, it was a real privilege.
“I didn't get my first international cap till I was 25 years old. So my international career ran from the ages of 25 to 37. But I think maybe the one thing I did do, I probably appreciated representing my country every time that I did. And I look back with great pride even now.”
💡I never imagined playing for my country. Initially an electrician, I thought my closest stint at Wembley would be working the bar. Getting my first cap at 25 and playing until 37, each game was a cherished privilege.
Q: What do you make of the new England kit?
SP: “I like it per se, but when you play with the England flag… I'm not sure it sat well with ex-players like myself and more importantly with the public. But as a kit, I like the kit, I think it's a decent kit, I think we've had some really good kits over the time.
“But with this one, just leave the flag as it is and keep it on the kit and then we're all happy.”
Q: The World Cup star again seems to be hidden, should we show it off?
SP: “Without a doubt we should be showing off the World Cup star. It's the proudest moment we've had as a footballing nation, there's no doubt about that.“
Q: Will Jude Bellingham take the burden away from Harry Kane?
SP: “Jude Bellingham will certainly help out the goal scoring situation. I think over the last few years, every time we've taken the pitch, the England team, we're expecting Harry Kane to score and be top of the goal scoring tree. I'm not sure that is the case now.
“I hope that the likes of Bellingham and Phil Foden will join him and share that load. There'll be goals from everywhere. Bukayo Saka as well, who looks like a permanent starter in the line up. Hopefully and as I say that will take the pressure off our centre forward.”
Q: What are you expecting from the Germany hosted tournament?
I think it could be one of the best Euros there has been.
SP: “I think the tournament in Germany is going to be fantastic. I really do.
“As I say, from a home nations point of view, the Scots being there, I'm delighted to be honest with you. People think that you don't want them there because of the England and Scotland rivalry. I'm totally the opposite. I think there'll be a brilliant addition, their fan base as well.
“There's a lot of big nations going there and bringing their fans. It's easy logistically to get there and to travel around the country. I think it could be one of the best Euros there has been.”
Q: Which of your former team-mates could best handle a beer?
SP: “If I had to put a team-mate forward who could best handle a beer, it would be Mark Crossley from our time at Nottingham Forest.
“I don't know whether he'd appreciate me saying so but he was a big old unit and he had hollow legs. So potentially him. He was a goalkeeper as well so he didn't have to run around a great deal!”
Q: Does Gareth Southgate get enough respect for what he has done as England manager?
SP: “I had six years working inside the organisation. I think people lose track of everything that Gareth's done and how he's brought the press onside and the players are onside.
“I look at a squad of players that are very passionate about representing their country, they all want to be part of it. I think we've got a brilliant group of young players.
“I think the young age groups and the women as well, they're winning things, which is a really big thing. It was a step forward that I always felt the England national team had to do, win at all age groups before they actually step out and win something at senior level.
“The under-21s are current champions of Europe, which is some achievement, make no mistake about that. And I think things are going in the right direction. I think we've got a brilliant ambassador as a manager who's got a great staff around him.
“Gareth has created that. Whichever way you look at it, when he took over the reins in 2016 it was very dysfunctional, make no mistake about that, from top to bottom. He must take great plaudits for changing that.”
Image: Shutterstock/Ivica Drusany
Q: Is Gareth Southgate coming to the end of his spell as England manager?
SP: “If Gareth steps down, I hope it will be Gareth's choice. That will be a career path that he decides but I know he's very passionate and very proud to represent England in the job that he does.
“If he decides to step down, I hope it's his choice. I hope if he is going to step down, he's done so by winning a trophy, that will be fantastic. But you've also got to make sure that the next person through the door is going to be just as good.
“I think there's a narrative going around that because England have got some talented youngsters they should go and win competitions comfortably. What I would say is when you look back at all the nations over the last 20 or 30 years, Spain, France, Germany for instance, all of those countries have done well and won things at the younger age groups before they've won major Euros or World Cups.
“I think England now have under 17s, 20s and 21s that know what it's like to win in an England shirt.
“I thought we would win in Qatar, in all honesty. I certainly think we've got the tools, the ability and the squad to go and win this summer.
“So if Gareth stays on afterwards, then I would be delighted personally. Win or lose, I think he's done a brilliant job. If he decides to go on somewhere else, I hope he does that as a winning manager.”
Q: Is Lee Carsley the perfect man to take over from Gareth Southgate?
SP: “I think it would be a big ask for Lee Carsley to step up into that role and also, the FA will not want to lose having a really good under-21s manager in place.
“He's done a brilliant job, listen, I had four tournaments at trying to win an under-21 tournament and we didn’t. Credit to Carsley, he's gone, he's built the team, and he's got some talented youngsters in the group that have stepped up into the senior echelons.
“The statement saying that he didn't want to leave to join Ireland is because he loves the work he does at under 21 level with his group of players. So they might not want to lose him at that age group, time will tell.”
Q: Could Jurgen Klopp be a good choice for next England manager?
SP: “If Gareth decided to move on at any given time, Jurgen Klopp's has the credentials. I think he enjoys English football and he likes his team to play a brand of attacking high energy, which is synonymous with England.
“But I think there'll be a lot of clubs around the world that will be thinking, Jurgen is the one for us.”
Stuart Pearce Profile
Stuart Pearce MBE (born 24 April 1962) is a renowned English football manager and ex-player, popularly known as "Psycho". Pearce's aggressive style of play defined his long and illustrious career.
Professional Career
Pearce's professional career began as a defender, playing for clubs including Wealdstone, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Manchester City over two decades. His most celebrated period was a 12-year stint at Nottingham Forest, where he frequently served as captain and became the club’s top international representative.
Notable Achievements
Pearce made 76 international appearances while at Forest, contributing to his 78 England caps and captaining the team nine times. In 2016, Pearce temporarily retired to play a match for Longford, a Gloucestershire team often referred to as "the worst in Great Britain", as a show of support for grassroots football.
Managerial Contributions
After hanging up his boots, Pearce focused on football management, with his first role as a caretaker manager at Nottingham Forest in 1996. He served as an assistant coach for Peter Taylor during Taylor's short reign as England manager.
Interview April 2024
Speaking exclusively to OLBG, Stuart Pearce has warned West Ham to be careful what they wish for following talks with Ruben Amorim.
The former Nottingham Forest defender has also called out the ‘dangerous’ line of thinking from his old club after their public complaint regarding VAR.
Pearce has also pinpointed how Arsenal have a huge advantage in the title race by being able to put pressure on Manchester City by playing their games in hand first.
The ex-England Under 21 boss has also explained his relationship with David Beckham after leaving him out of his squad for Team GB at London 2012.
Q: What do you make of West Ham’s interest in Ruben Amorim?
SP: “I think if there's a change at West Ham in any way, shape or form, I hope that's the choice of David Moyes.
"When I look back on what he's done, and I've been fortunate to be on the inside working with him, he's changed the culture of the football club and made it a lot more professional. I think they've had three consecutive European campaigns which is unheard of in the club's history.
“He's put a trophy in the cabinet, which hadn't happened for a number of decades and he’s brought in the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta and so many more. The squad is as strong as it’s ever been. They’re eighth in the table and he’s done so much good.
“Now, I hope it's David's choice whether he decides to stay or go. If he decides to go, then that's his choice. If he doesn't, then the club need to be careful what they wish for. As I say, I think I see more good than certainly some of the chat I hear outside of West Ham.
“On Amorim, If he'll end up on these shores, I've no idea. But word gets around if there's top coaches in world football and the fact that his name's being mentioned at places like Liverpool and West Ham, that does tell you something.”
Q: What do you make of Nottingham Forest’s statement on social media?
SP: “Having watched the three incidents that they feel aggrieved about, I can understand why they feel that way initially.
“If any team has three incidents like that in one game you would feel aggrieved and would of course be frustrated. I've looked at all three and I thought there could be a case for a penalty for all three. I would have said there was definitely one penalty in there.
“I can understand why they're aggrieved but what you can't do as a football club in my opinion you can't start pointing fingers at allegiances.
“We've all supported a team as a kid and that includes referees in this country. Everyone's got an association with a football club. I don't actually see the benefit of not giving a penalty to Forest, even if it had been the case, if you’re Luton then the draw would’ve been the best result.
“Forest talked about standing an official down from the game in Stuart Attwell, I think that’s a dangerous line of thinking in our game. We pride ourselves on this country about being fair and the officials being impartial. I think the officials have been really good if I'm being quite honest.
“From my experience as a manager and now as a pundit, I think we got some of the best referees in the world - and personally I think that their choice of wording was inappropriate.”
Q: Is it impossible to look past Manchester City in the title race?
SP: “I think there'll be twists and turns in this title race. I think it's been a brilliant one for all of us to sit back and just enjoy the three teams going at it.
“I did say last summer that I didn't think City would regain the Premier League. I think I thought last season and the Treble would take it out of them too much.
“At the moment they're proving me wrong, but I think there'll be a few twists and turns. But I think that if City get three points away at Brighton on Thursday, which won't be easy, that makes them the big favourite.”
Q: Do Arsenal have a big advantage having been able to get their points on the board first?
SP: “It’s definitely an advantage for Arsenal being able to get their points on the board first. It puts pressure on the opposition when they play, no doubt about that.
“For Arsenal, Tottenham away will have a big say in whether Arsenal get their hands on the trophy. It's going to be an interesting run, that is for sure.
“Of the three teams in the race, if any of them get beat again then I think that’s their chances.”
Q: Is it disrespectful that West Ham are allegedly talking to a potential new manager?
SP: ”I think it’s always been in football over the years that clubs speak with potential new managers behind the scenes.
“You'd be very naive if they are going to make a change not to have spoken to anybody.,
“I'm interested in people saying that things need to turn around, when Moyes walked through the door West Ham were in the relegation zone and the dressing room wasn’t great.
“He’s turned it around. Make no mistake about that, three European campaigns and now eighth in the Premier League. I think he's done a lot right at that football club and that's not to be underestimated.
“Probably after Dave leaves the football club, people will look back and say, you know what, we didn't realise what a good job he'd done and I think that'll be the case.”
Q: Would a lack of Premier League experience mark it harder for Ruben Amorim to succeed?
SP: “I don't think you need Premier League experience to succeed. Where did Jurgen Klopp get Premier League experience? Pep Guardiola?
“I don't think it really matters. You know, Roberto Di Zerbi has come in and impressed too. It's a brilliant league, arguably the best in the world, but I think experience in this league is irrelevant.
“Recruitment is the most important job at a football club.”
Q: Is Liverpool an attractive position for Ruben Amorim or a risky one after Jurgen Klopp?
SP: “To follow Jurgen Klopp is not going to be an easy job. I think they've got a defined style of play. He's developed a really good squad there and he’s a cult figure at Liverpool.
“It will be a difficult job for anybody to follow, but he's leaving Liverpool in a really good shape.”
Q: What are your memories of managing at London 2012?
SP: “From a managerial point of view, it was the best thing I've ever done. It was incredible to unite the team and to showcase my profession under a bigger umbrella.
“To walk into the Olympic village, to be part of an Olympic Games, nothing compares to it. I’ve played and coached at World Cups but this was absolutely enormous.
“Seeing athletes like Mo Farah and Usain Bolt, it was incredible and our players didn't know what to expect. That was until we went to kit out at Loughborough and Clive Woodward came in and gave us a talk as well as Dame Kelly Holmes, all of a sudden the penny dropped on them.
“The players like Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards absolutely loved it and embraced it. We went to play at the stadiums, whether it being Cardiff or Wembley or Old Trafford, there were people there that bought tickets for the Olympics to come and watch football in the Olympics because it was the Olympics. They weren't necessarily football fans.
“So I think we opened the eyes of people that weren't actually your normal run-of-the-mill football fans that came and really enjoyed the day out watching football.”
Q: Did you ever clear the air with David Beckham over the selection controversy?
SP: “It was probably the toughest decision I've ever had to make in management. You know, it was a horrible decision because I knew how David was desperate to be part of this and part of the Olympics and be part of the football team.
“I've been in England squads with him, so I know how passionate and proud he is to represent his country. On this occasion it was GB. But I also had to do a job of management.
“The balance of the squad was important as well. What people don't quite understand is I could only pick three over-age players and the balance of the squad was vitally important for me in the form of certain individuals.
“Giggs and Bellamy were fantastic at the time and I think Richards was the other overage player because I needed a central defender. So it was probably, you know, by far the toughest decision I've ever had to make in management.
“It’s not one that I took with great pride, if I'm being quite honest with you, but it was the right decision to make for the fairness of the squad and give the squad the best opportunity of going as far as we could.
“The only time I spoke with David was when I informed him that he wouldn't be in the squad, you know, which to be fair, for duty of care to him.
“In the first meeting I ever had with him, all the overage players were asking about if he had an interest in playing for the team, but that didn’t mean they were in the team.
“I saw David play live twice in LA and once in Salt Lake City and I watched every other game that he played leading up in a I think nine month period leading into the Olympic Games so I'd done duty of care as best I possibly could.
“I made him no promises from the outset so when it was time for me to pick a squad I didn't ring everybody and say you're not in the squad there'd be far too many players but David I think was the only person I rung and said look I'm sorry to say that you’re not in the squad.
“That was the last conversation I had with David. I wouldn't say we're great friends, we never have been, but I think somewhere down the line he'll look back and say at least I was honest and upfront with him.”
