For England coach Anthony Barry, the World Cup is about more than just winning – it's about building a team that represents everything that is good about the Premier League. "The England jersey should feel like a cape, not body armour," he says, reflecting on his new role as part of Thomas Tuchel's coaching staff.
Barry, who rose from playing for Accrington Stanley in League Two to becoming one of the most sought-after coaches in football, believes that winning is crucial but only if it comes with an emotional connection. "Who you are and what you represent is far more important than what you do," he says, pointing out that international football is all about building a brotherhood among players.
Barry's approach is all-consuming, from the moment he steps into the training room to the moment he leaves at night. He believes in obsession and constant improvement – as a Uefa pro licence holder, his dissertation on set pieces was published after 18 months of study. His mind never switches off; he can answer questions at any hour.
For England, that means building a team with psychological profiling, technical analysis, and tactical planning. It's about understanding how players interact with each other and creating a heat-proof game model for the World Cup finals in the US, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
However, Barry acknowledges that no matter how hard they work, there will be moments of brilliance and frustration. "It's going to be a tournament of moments," he says. "You're not going to see the best team playing the best football. The team that wins the World Cup will be one of those moments – because you'll have to suffer."
Ultimately, it's about building a connection between players and creating an energy within the team. For Barry, it's about taking the handbrake off, allowing players to move freely on the pitch and take risks. He believes that this approach can lead to something truly special – a Team England that represents everything the Premier League stands for.
"It's not just about playing 11 v 11," he says. "It's about creating something – a brotherhood, an energy between each other. That's what will give us the edge we need."
Barry, who rose from playing for Accrington Stanley in League Two to becoming one of the most sought-after coaches in football, believes that winning is crucial but only if it comes with an emotional connection. "Who you are and what you represent is far more important than what you do," he says, pointing out that international football is all about building a brotherhood among players.
Barry's approach is all-consuming, from the moment he steps into the training room to the moment he leaves at night. He believes in obsession and constant improvement – as a Uefa pro licence holder, his dissertation on set pieces was published after 18 months of study. His mind never switches off; he can answer questions at any hour.
For England, that means building a team with psychological profiling, technical analysis, and tactical planning. It's about understanding how players interact with each other and creating a heat-proof game model for the World Cup finals in the US, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
However, Barry acknowledges that no matter how hard they work, there will be moments of brilliance and frustration. "It's going to be a tournament of moments," he says. "You're not going to see the best team playing the best football. The team that wins the World Cup will be one of those moments – because you'll have to suffer."
Ultimately, it's about building a connection between players and creating an energy within the team. For Barry, it's about taking the handbrake off, allowing players to move freely on the pitch and take risks. He believes that this approach can lead to something truly special – a Team England that represents everything the Premier League stands for.
"It's not just about playing 11 v 11," he says. "It's about creating something – a brotherhood, an energy between each other. That's what will give us the edge we need."