Leighton Baines believes England's World Cup preparations have gone well because of the club-like bond that it has helped create. Roy Hodgson's side have spent time in the Algarve, Miami and Rio de Janiero to prepare for the tough conditions of Manaus, while warm-up matches against Peru, Ecuador and Honduras have shown them first-hand the kind of opponents they could face in Brazil.
"I don't think it could have gone much better to be honest," Baines said.
"It's been really enjoyable, we've got some really good work in and spent some good time together.
"The preparation in terms of the heat and the opponents has been really good.
"For the time I've been involved with England, this is as good a group as there's been.
"There's a real good spirit throughout the camp and part of that is probably down to the preparation we've been doing.
"We've been working hard but have obviously been spending a few weeks together that has enabled us to get that kind of club feel to the international set-up."
