Stakes high for England and Romania

England manager Stuart Pearce's hopes of sealing a third successive UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals appearance have been disrupted by injury ahead of Friday's play-off first leg against Romania in Norwich.

Defenders Micah Richards and Kieran Gibbs, who both played in the 2009 final when England lost to Germany, are both sidelined along with reserve goalkeeper Alex Smithies. Pearce, though, is confident his charges are strong enough to cope.

"There's been a great team spirit in the squad this season and the results have been pleasing as well," he said. "We're in the play-offs after the pressure of last month's games, but I think that will stand them in good stead for these games against Romania."

England, semi-finalists in 2007, beat Portugal and Lithuania last month in their final two Group 9 matches to earn their play-off place as one of the four best runners-up. They now face a Romania team looking to reach the finals for the first time since hosting the competition in 1998.

Emil Săndoi's side saw off Russia to claim top spot in Group 1 and Pearce is impressed. "Romania will be a very direct counterattacking team, very incisive and very quick. They try to get balls in behind very early when they turn over possession and technically they are a good side."

For England, Arsenal FC prodigy Jack Wilshere is included as well as being called up to the senior squad while Romania are boosted by the return of captain Gabriel Torje. The FC Dinamo Bucureşti striker missed the last two group games after his own promotion to the senior ranks.

Săndoi will, however, be without injured strikers Liviu Ganea and Mihai Costea for the first leg, though the latter could be back for the return in Botosani next Tuesday. "These two matches against England are like a European final and we will treat them accordingly," he said.

"England reached the semi-finals and final in the last two tournaments, but let's not forget we won our qualifying group with the biggest number of points among all ten group winners. The two matches we played against Russia proved we can play at the same level as anyone."

Romania defeated Russia 3-0 then drew 0-0 in their final two Group 1 games to win the section. Having overcome that hurdle, Săndoi's instructions are very clear for the next. "First we have to get a result in England which keeps our hopes alive. To achieve that we will have to be disciplined, avoid individual errors and treat both matches as a final. If we qualify our boys will go down in the history of Romanian football."