Former Toon defender Stuart Pearce has backed former manager Fabio Capello's theory that Euro 2012 will be harder to win than the World Cup.
He claims it will be harder to qualify than if Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and the USA were in the mix.
Pearce was caretaker coach for England's 3-2 defeat by Holland on Wednesday.
Stuart Pearce: "The French are in there, Ukrainians on home soil and obviously the Swedes.
"The one thing a World Cup would probably throw up is a match against a lesser nation that would allow you to gather momentum by getting out of the group.
"In the Euros you have to hit the ground running. And make no mistake, with France in the first game we have got to be running very quickly.
"Over-expectation always follows the England team. Under-expectation as well.
"We have to handle that within the group."