Interim managers usually need winning performances to earn the job full time.
Stuart Pearce got off to a losing start as England's coach Wednesday night, with Arjen Robben scoring in stoppage time to give the Netherlands a 3-2 exhibition victory.
England had gone unbeaten in nine consecutive games since a November 2010 defeat to France. The English management was upended when Fabio Capello resigned Feb. 8, angry the Football Association removed John Terry as national team captain without his consent. Pearce was appointed interim manager.
''I think they needed a touch more belief that they could hurt a team of this ability,'' Pearce said of his team. ''I didn't see it as a big night for me. I wasn't auditioning for anything.''
Pearce hopes to lead England into Euro 2012 if the Football Association cannot find a full time successor by then. His nation's under-21 coach, Pearce dropped several experienced players against the Dutch, to give younger players experience against a team that started nine players who appeared in the 2010 World Cup final against Spain.
Robben put the Dutch in front in the 57th minute, picking up possession inside his own half, racing forward and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar added his 31st goal in 50 international appearances in the 59th. powering a header into the net and knocking heads with Chris Smalling in the process.
''Players like Arjen Robben, like we've seen tonight, can change the game,'' England captain Scott Parker said. ''It was a touch of brilliance tonight from Robben.''
Gary Cahill began England's comeback in the 85th minute, and Ashley Young lifted the ball into the net five minutes later.
''At 2-0, we could have fallen apart really,'' Parker said. ''We dug in and we got ourselves back.''
Robben was set up for the go-ahead goal by Mark van Bommel, ending a three-match winless streak for the losing 2010 World Cup finalist exactly 100 days before the European Championship.
''Robben is a great player,'' Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said through a translator. ''He enjoyed himself very much.''
The turnaround from some recent struggles impressed Robben.
''Before this game we had a bad series, because we lost against Germany 3-0 ... (and) against Sweden and Switzerland we had difficulties,'' Robben said. ''We have a great squad, great potential still, although everybody's getting a year older.
''But we're still at a good age and we go to the Euros to win, no doubt about that. Not with arrogance, but if you have a great squad you go to a tournament to win and not to reach the quarterfinals.''
