Gareth Barry has admitted that he has
'virtually written off' his chances of making the England squad for this
summer's World Cup.
The midfielder has won 53
international caps but has not played for his country since a pre-Euro
2012 friendly against Norway and is not anticipating a surprise call-up
for Brazil.
Barry's strong performances for Everton this season, having joined
the club on loan from Manchester City, had put him in the frame for
selection.
However, he concedes that missing out on a place in Roy Hodgson's
inflated squad for the recent Denmark friendly almost certainly
signalled the end of his hopes.
"I've not spoken to the manager for two years and I didn't get a call
from him before the Denmark friendly saying 'you weren't far off'. So
in my head, I've virtually written it off," Barry said in the Sunday People.
"When I joined Everton, England wasn't even in the back of my mind,
but the way the season has gone, there were a growing number of calls
for me to be included.
"When I heard there was going to be a 30-man squad for the Denmark
game, I thought: 'There's a really good chance I could be involved
here'.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't slightly disappointed that I wasn't -
but I've been in football long enough to know it doesn't matter how
well you have been playing if your face isn't going to fit in a certain
squad."
