City ace Barry holds England key

15 June 2010 08:00
| Submit Comments| Comments (18)| Printable VersionPrevious | Next1/1Play SlideshowClose MapGareth BarryManchester City star Gareth Barry reckons he could be the man to solve the Steven Gerrard-Frank Lampard midfield conundrum for England. The Blues midfielder should be fit to face Algeria on Friday after recovering from an ankle problem. His partnership with Lampard and Gerrard was pivotal in England reaching South Africa in impressive style with nine wins from 10 games in the qualifying group. And without him in the opener against USA, England's midfield failed to stamp their authority on the game. Barry told BBC Sport: "The three of us played the majority of games and I think there was a good understanding. "Stevie was working from the left but coming centrally and getting forward quite a lot. "They both chipped in with their fair share of goals and it really worked well." It is a relief to Barry to be involved in his first World Cup finals after being overlooked for 2002 and 2006 by Sven-Goran Eriksson. He admits it was "touch and go" whether he would recover sufficiently from the ligament damage suffered against Spurs at Eastlands on May 5. Barry said: "It has felt like the World Cup was never going to come for me. "Midway through the Sven-Goran Eriksson era, my England career and the World Cup looked miles away. "When the injury came, it felt like it was one of those things that was not going to happen. "It was touch and go but it was important I never stopped believing." Barry added: "The ankle has been fine for 10 days. Another week's training in the lead-up to the Algeria game and I should be spot on. "If the manager had asked me if I was ready to play against the United States at the weekend, I would have bitten his hand off to try and make the starting team. "I was desperate for us to go two or three goals up and then he might have thrown me on!" Barry joined the chorus of sympathy for keeper Robert Green after his error cost a goal against the United States. He said: "You don't know what to say to somebody who's made a mistake like that. "Sometimes you are better leaving them alone and letting them get on with it themselves. But the manager and all the players are right behind Rob. "The manager spoke to Rob straight away. You know this is football, and those things happen. I'm sure Rob knows and he's thinking he can come out stronger and learn from it." Is Barry the key for England? Have your say.| Submit Comments| Comments (18)| Printable VersionPrevious | NextAdd A CommentEnter your comments:

Source: Man_City