Barry: We must put things right

Gareth Barry
12 April 2012

Gareth Barry accepts no matter how well England perform in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign they will still have to win over a sceptical public once they get to Poland and Ukraine.

England's poor World Cup campaign was made more disappointing by the fact Fabio Capello's men recorded nine wins from 10 during qualifying to push themselves forward as potential winners. They start the whole process again at Wembley on Friday, when Bulgaria are the first opponents in a bid to reach the next European Championships.

"What happened in South Africa was hard to take after we qualified with such flying colours," Barry reflected. "Going forward and defensively, we looked very good. Maybe that did affect us a bit. We were on a high and the country felt we had a proper chance. But on the big stage it didn't happen. Everyone realises now that it's not about how we qualify."

He added: "The main objective is just to qualify and then have a good tournament."

Even as Capello's future was being debated, reasons were being offered as to why a team that qualified in such style, containing players who weekly hit the highest notes in what is supposedly the best league in the world, should perform quite so badly.

Barry takes on board many of the points. He did question his own ability for a start.

He also embraces the idea of a winter break, which seems so obvious but has proved impossible to incorporate within the fixture calendar.

But the normally laid-back Manchester City midfielder positively bristles when it is suggested that the simple reason England so consistently perform below expectations is because the players themselves are not that bothered and feel no pride in wearing those Three Lions on their chest.

"It is annoying when people say we don't care," said Barry.

"It is nonsense. Everyone knows we want to win as much as anyone. We are here to win."

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