England U21 boss Stuart Pearce is ready for a battle with Premiership clubs over the availability of players for next year's European Championships.
Speaking on the eve of the Under-21s' friendly against the Czech Republic at Bramall Lane, Pearce said: "The most important thing for me is for England to win a trophy. It would be folly for me to go there with a lesser squad.
"England have not won a great deal at any level for many, many years and if we leave our best players at home, we are not going to.
"The players have been happy to step up and step down and I think the players themselves will vote with their feet.
"It might suit club managers [for players not to go], they know the player will be rested and not get injured. My job is to make sure the country that I love is successful with this age group.
"My support would be unwavering even if I walked out and worked for a club. So don't ask me to have sympathy with somebody else who has the impression we should not back the national side, I can't understand the mentality.
"I don't really see the need to ring certain club managers here and there, I don't really see the relevance. The most important thing is the players will want to be there."
Pearce believes there is no reason why players should not be in the senior squad and also join up with the Under-21s for the tournament.
He added: "There are no senior games when that tournament is on next summer. Their last game is on June 10 and the tournament doesn't start until the 15th or 16th."
Pearce said all players would benefit from the experience - and that England paid the price for leaving behind some big names in 2007.
He said: "We did it last time and got to a semi-final and left at home countless players for whatever reason.
"If the Germans and the Finnish and the Serbians and the Spanish and the Italians are going to leave all their top players at home, then we might, but they won't.
"Seven of the Italian players that won the World Cup had an under-21 championship medal, and I don't think that was a coincidence.
"If you look at the likes of Theo, Gabby or Joe Hart, the best thing they can do is ask any of the 22 involved in Holland last summer whether they were better players at the end of the tournament than the beginning. They experienced everything a major tournament can throw at you."
