Stuart Pearce

This evening sees an England football team in the final of a major tournament for the first time since ... well, let's just say it's been too long.

The match in question is the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship from Sweden and will see England play against old friends Germany.

As I've said before I'm trying to take a bit of a break from football during these summer months, in the hope that when the new season comes around in August/September I'll be filled with enthusiasm, but I've made a point of keeping up with this important tournament.

In this country we tend to be very focused on what's going on at the very top of our own game - Premier League, Internationals, Champions League - at the expense of the wider football scene.

I've been impressed with England's performances throughout the tournament and I've been even more impressed with how team manager Stuart Pearce has presented himself during the matches and afterwards, when being interviewed.

For those of us of a certain age Stuart Pearce will always have a place in our hearts. As a player he was, in many ways, the stereotypical touch tackling English defender. Nicknamed 'psycho' during his playing days he represented six different clubs and made nearly 750 senior appearances. At international level he was first capped by England in 1987 in a game against Brazil and went on to represent his country, with pride and honour, a total of 78 times.

As a manager Pearce was employed by Nottingham Forest in a caretaker capacity during the 96-97 season and spent 3 years managing Manchester City before taking charge of the England Under 21 team in 2007.

For many, Stuart Pearce will be remembered for two incidents involving penalties.

One, the penalty shoot-out that followed the semi-final of the 1990 FIFA World Cup against West Germany. After the match had finished 1-1 Pearce was one of two England players to unfortunately miss their penalties and he left the pitch in tears as England were defeated.

Two, six years later, during the EURO 96 quarter-final penalty shoot-out against Spain at Wembley Stadium in London, Pearce again took a penalty and this time was successful. His emotional celebration in front of a joyous Wembley crowd became one of English football's most celebrated images. The expression on Pearce's face was one of uncontrollable joy mixed with an equal measure of relief. I remember watching the match live on TV at the time and being close to tears myself when he turned to the crowd, punched the air, shouted 'come on! and celebrated his successful penalty. It felt like a wrong had at long, long last been righted.

Whatever the result of tonight's game my first thoughts will be for Stuart Pearce - an English man we can be proud of.