Two bore draws against Spain and Ukraine means his Young Lions have to beat Czech Republic in Viborg tomorrow to avoid catching the first plane home in shame.
But while the nation frets about his squad's hopes, boss Pearce is calm.
He says he has seen it all before - he was in England team hammered for drawing against the Republic of Ireland and Holland in their opening two matches of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Pearce played a key role to help Bobby Robson's Three Lions beat Egypt 1-0 in their final group game to get to the knockout stages.
It kick-started a run to the semi-finals where they lost on penalties to West Germany - a night remembered for Gazza's tears.
That is why Pearce is staying positive.
He said: "I have trodden the same path as these players.
"I've gone to a World Cup and went into the first group game scared stiff - and I had 20 senior caps.
"These players have had to deal with the same thing I did at Italia 90.
"I've told them that feeling nervous is normal. When I say to them 'I know how you feel', they know I really do.
"My first game at a tournament was against the Republic of Ireland at that World Cup. A few years before I was an electrician, so the experience had come on me very quickly.
"When I came in after the game, Bobby Robson asked 'Where is Stuart Pearce?' I said I didn't know and that I hadn't played well and I was nervous. He told me that he had given me 20 caps not to be nervous.
"But nothing prepares you for stepping out at a World Cup or a major tournament. For all of these boys, this will be the biggest tournament they have played in.
"They will be feeling against the Czechs the same as I did going into that Egypt game in 1990."
His youngsters have come in for the same sort of criticism as Robson's squad did back then.
But Pearce said: "We've played 12 games in this tournament and lost one.
"We played Spain who keep the ball really well, then the Ukraine where the expectation level was different.
"People were thinking we should win the game, disregarding how good they are and how they qualified.
"The Germans, the French and the Italians are not here - but we're ready to write off our own nation."
And even if his lads crash out tomorrow, Pearce will stay on as Young Lions boss on a new two-year deal waiting for him when he returns from Denmark.
He added: "If the team do well, it's down to the players. If we do badly, it's my responsibility."
ENGLAND (likely): Fielding; Walker, Smalling, Jones, Bertrand; Mancienne, Henderson; Sturridge, Lansbury, Sinclair; Welbeck.
But while the nation frets about his squad's hopes, boss Pearce is calm.
He says he has seen it all before - he was in England team hammered for drawing against the Republic of Ireland and Holland in their opening two matches of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Pearce played a key role to help Bobby Robson's Three Lions beat Egypt 1-0 in their final group game to get to the knockout stages.
It kick-started a run to the semi-finals where they lost on penalties to West Germany - a night remembered for Gazza's tears.
That is why Pearce is staying positive.
He said: "I have trodden the same path as these players.
"I've gone to a World Cup and went into the first group game scared stiff - and I had 20 senior caps.
"These players have had to deal with the same thing I did at Italia 90.
"I've told them that feeling nervous is normal. When I say to them 'I know how you feel', they know I really do.
"My first game at a tournament was against the Republic of Ireland at that World Cup. A few years before I was an electrician, so the experience had come on me very quickly.
"When I came in after the game, Bobby Robson asked 'Where is Stuart Pearce?' I said I didn't know and that I hadn't played well and I was nervous. He told me that he had given me 20 caps not to be nervous.
"But nothing prepares you for stepping out at a World Cup or a major tournament. For all of these boys, this will be the biggest tournament they have played in.
"They will be feeling against the Czechs the same as I did going into that Egypt game in 1990."
His youngsters have come in for the same sort of criticism as Robson's squad did back then.
But Pearce said: "We've played 12 games in this tournament and lost one.
"We played Spain who keep the ball really well, then the Ukraine where the expectation level was different.
"People were thinking we should win the game, disregarding how good they are and how they qualified.
"The Germans, the French and the Italians are not here - but we're ready to write off our own nation."
And even if his lads crash out tomorrow, Pearce will stay on as Young Lions boss on a new two-year deal waiting for him when he returns from Denmark.
He added: "If the team do well, it's down to the players. If we do badly, it's my responsibility."
ENGLAND (likely): Fielding; Walker, Smalling, Jones, Bertrand; Mancienne, Henderson; Sturridge, Lansbury, Sinclair; Welbeck.
