England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce wants to bring success to the country next summer after coming so close as a player.

Pearce feels his youngsters have a real chance of winning the European Championships but to earn a place at the tournament in Sweden they must beat Wales in a play-off, with the first leg at Ninian Park tonight.

After reaching the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96, Pearce knows the effect a successful England team can have on the country.

"It would be a fantastic lift," said Pearce. "I was fortunate enough to be involved in 1990, when quarter of a million people turned up at Luton Airport to see a team that had been beaten in a semi-final. I was also involved in 1996 when the country went crazy after we got a bit of momentum going in a tournament in our own back yard.

"I think winning is infectious, whatever trophy. At all age groups we are pretty successful but we have to win a trophy. That's what it boils down to.

"I only ever lost six games in 78 games for the senior team but I haven't got a trophy behind me or a winner's medal to say 'this is what I got playing for England'."

Pearce has lost only once since being appointed last year a 13-12 shoot-out defeat to Holland in the semi-final of the 2007 Euros but knows his position will be assessed if England fail to make it through the play-offs, with the second leg on Tuesday at Villa Park.

"When I joined 18 months ago on a full-time contract it was a two-year contract," said the under-21 coach.

"That will be reviewed, I hope, next summer at the end of the tournament. That will change on Tuesday if we don't get through the play-off situation.

"That is something I would have to speak to my bosses about. I would still be under contract until the summer but it will be a decision for me and my bosses. I love doing this. The involvement is fantastic as well. I don't want that to end on Tuesday evening."

Aside from the penalty defeat, England are undefeated in 25 games stretching back almost three years. They beat Wales 2-0 last season with goals from Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone and Arsenal's Theo Walcott, who will feature for the senior side tomorrow.

Pearce's squad is packed with Premier League experience, the players boast ing 843 top-flight appearances between them. By contrast only two of the Welsh have featured in the Premier League, Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and West Ham's Jack Collison, and they have only played two games each.

Despite that, Wales boss Brian Flynn is sure his side won't be intimidated in front of a 12,000 sell-out crowd. He said: "This is a big game for us and the boys can handle it, I do not believe they will freeze against some big names in the England squad. The more big games we play in the better, this gives them that experience for when they step up to the senior team.

"I have always said they are a close-knit bunch so playing at Ninian Park will excite them rather than put them on edge."

Flynn has a fitness doubt over Walsall's Mark Bradley, and the winger will have a test on a foot injury.

Wales have had the Under-21s working with the seniors at their Vale of Glamorgan HQ and Flynn added: "It is a great week for the boys, building up to the biggest under-21 game in our history. Training alongside the senior team has been a major boost for the boys.

"It was my choice to play at Ninian Park, it is a great venue when you have a Welsh crowd singing. Just being there and listening to them singing the national anthem and cheering them on will be like a 12th man for our players. I did speak to the players about it. We beat France at Ninian Park and the boys like playing there, it's lucky for them.

"The bigger the challenge the better we are. We are rarely favourites but we reached a point in the group when we were expected to win. We all see this is a challenge."

And whatever happens, Flynn is convinced Welsh football is on the up.

He said: "This is definitely a generation of young Welsh players who will qualify for a senior finals in the future."

* Tonight, 7.45 Sky Sports 1