England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

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Barry seeks regular spot

10 Sep 2007 - 08:12:04

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Midfielder Gareth Barry is hoping to retain his place in the England engine room after impressing during the 3-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win over Israel at Wembley.

Aston Villa's Barry showed up well alongside Steven Gerrard, with Owen Hargreaves having missed out due to injury, but the latter could earn a recall against Russia on Wednesday.

"I knew that playing in the centre of midfield at home to Israel, I was going to get a lot of the ball," Barry said.

"It was pretty simple in the end, we moved the ball about quickly and the other boys took the game to them.

"It will be a lot more difficult against Russia. I expect them to have more of a go at us. We will have to be a bit more wary at the back, but we can take confidence from the result against Israel.

"There was a lot of pressure on the lads and Israel were here to spoil it, but the early goal settled us down. We believed in ourselves and showed it on the pitch."

Twenty-six-year-old Barry returned to the England fold earlier this year after nearly four years out of the picture, but says he never gave up hope of securing a recall.

He added: "I felt I was good enough, so I never did really give up, but it does enter your head every now and again that your international career is possibly over.

"It just goes to show that you can never give up. I knew I was still young enough and playing well enough.

"Sometimes you just have to wait around for your chance to come again."