bout Pirlo ??

Pirlo is still in the U-21


Barry buoyant as England hold Italy

Wednesday 27th March 2002

England Under-21 captain Gareth Barry believes that his side have what it takes to win the European Championship after their 1-1 draw against Italy Under-21.

The Aston Villa defender scored England's equaliser at the Valley as David Platt's injury ravaged side earned a creditable draw with a promising Italian side, and Barry believes that the experience will give England confidence ahead of the two sides' next meeting at the Under-21 European Championship finals in Switzerland.

"There will be a lot of quality in Switzerland but we've done very well, so we think we've got a very good chance when we go there for the finals," said Barry. "We will definitely go away in the summer believing that we can win the tournament."

England were on the back foot for the first half of the game as they struggled to deal with the skilful trio of Marco Marchionni, Andrea Pirlo and goalscorer Massimo Maccarone, but they were back to their best in the second period as Barry prodded home their equaliser.

"It was always going to be difficult against an Italian team who have been together for a long time but we got to grips with it gradually and the manager said at half-time 'if we believe we can get back into it, then you will'," explained Barry. "He said we were creating on set-pieces and that's where the goal came from."

The result was particularly satisfying for Engand because they were without five of their most promising players through injury - Michael Carrick, David Dunn, Sean Davis, Jonathan Greening and Chris Kirkland.

"There were a few players missing and we had a few new caps, only a small squad, little time to work together, so overall it was a happy dressing room afterwards," said Barry.

"Since David Platt came in he has done very well. He's introduced a lot of new players, kept some of the others and there is a nice blend at the moment."

Platt himself was delighted by his young side's performance.

"Seven out of the starting 11 could play in the next European Championships, so it was a young squad but there is an immediate learning curve because what they've got to do is take the experience out of that game, because in two months we play the Italians again," he said.

"It was the kind of game you wanted to help prepare for the finals," he added.

"We could have played a lesser country and not gained a great deal out of such a game. This was the kind of game which, if you are going to win the tournament, you will have to face and come through on five occasions in the summer against the same sort of opposition."


" with the skilful trio of Marco Marchionni, Andrea Pirlo and goalscorer Massimo Maccarone, "