Ross Barkley says England are ready to return in style

The Everton midfielder was a second-half substitute for Roy Hodgson’s men and made an instant impact, almost forcing an equaliser to make it 2-2.

Hodgson has shown faith in the 20-year-old, who turned heads in the Premier League last season and has now figured seven times for the Three Lions since his debut in September.

After enjoying an impressive first start against Ecuador in Miami recently, he was given the nod for a 30-minute appearance in the Three Lions' World Cup opener on Saturday in the heat and humidity of the Amazon.

“It was a great experience, and I’ve never felt anything like that playing for England,” Barkley told TheFA.com.

“Coming on was a dream, and to do it in a World Cup against Italy, against the likes of Di Rossi, Pirlo - it was a dream. It can only bode well for me in the future.

“At the start a few of the lads said the conditions were hard, but then they got used to it. Because I’d done a few warm-ups I felt it was easier when I came on to adapt to the conditions.

“I was disappointed when I had my chance and the keeper’s made a save – I thought I could have done better there. But overall I thought I did well when I came on.” 

He continued: “It’s my style of play, going on the pitch I like to beat players. But I’ve also got to help the team out and win the ball back in that position, too. 

“The gaffer has shown that it doesn’t matter if we’re 18, 20, 30, he’ll put you on because he believes in you. He said to me he doesn’t care how old I am, and it’s good to see.”

On Wednesday, the team arrived in Sao Paulo ready to face Uruguay in their second match of the World Cup.

The sun was beating down when they landed, but by the time the team got to the stadium later in the afternoon, a familiar downpour had made for completely different conditions.

And Barkley says it will suit the team as they look forward to the chance to get their first points in Brazil

“It was very much like at home. The weather is not like it was in Manaus,” said Barkley. “It shouldn’t be difficult for us to play our game, we don’t have to worry about the weather. 

“We didn’t get rattled by the Italy result because we played some good football and all the players are confident going into the Uruguay game because we need to prove that we can perform on this big stage.”

Barkley also revealed that the team spirit in the camp is high as players mingle with each other in the communal areas of their base camp.

The midfielder is a regular in the games room and can often be seen taking Luke Shaw on at table tennis. 

“You meet new mates coming away with England. I didn’t know Luke before coming into the squad but he’s become my mate since we joined up.

Barkley in conversation with fellow World Cup debutant Luke Shaw

“We’ve been in a squad before, when he made his debut, but we didn’t really have the chance to speak much, but on this trip you can spend more time with people and we’ve become good mates. 

“It’s good being around the games room, and you get to mix the lads you wouldn’t normally mix with.”

A year ago, Barkley was in Turkey as part of the a young England team at the U20s World Cup.

Having played through all the Three Lions youth teams, the 20-year-old says the experience of being away last summer – and also in 2010 when he won the U17s European Championship with England – has helped him feel at home in the senior squad.

“This is the main World Cup, so it’s more serious, but everything that is set up for us and the atmosphere is similar,” said Barkley.

“Obviously the players here are at the top of the game, but being away previously has prepared me for this experience in Brazil.”

He added: “Because I’ve done this kind of thing from a young age, being away with England is not a problem for me, you adapt to it.

“The maximum we’ll be away for is six or seven weeks if we get to the Final, and it’s a big part of our lives. 

“It only comes around once every four years so we’ve got to be prepared for it.”