WE WON’T BALE OUT
Wales captain raring to go in win-or-bust drop battle
LIKELY TEAMS WALES:
BY GARETH BALE is ready to play his first 90 minutes for more than a year in order to ensure Wales succeed where England failed.
The Wales captain is set to start against Poland tonight at the Cardiff City Stadium, where a victory will ensure the Dragons remain in the top tier of the Nations League. England have already been relegated from the top table after losing to Italy on Friday night, but Bale – who was part of the Wales squad famously captured on camera celebrating England’s demise at Euro 2016 – reckons he was unmoved by the defeat of Wales’ World Cup group rivals.
Asked if he had a wry smile at the 1-0 defeat suffered by Gareth Southgate’s men, Bale insisted: “I am not too bothered, to be honest. We are just focusing on ourselves at the moment.
“I wasn’t watching so I don’t really know what happened.”
Bale last played an entire match last September in a goalless draw against Estonia and even his recent move to Los Angeles FC has resulted in cameo roles of less than 90 minutes.
But such is the importance Wales manager Rob Page has attached to staying in League A of the tournament that Bale is likely to start – and could also finish.
Following their 2-1 midweek defeat to Belgium, only a victory can keep Wales in the top tier at Poland’s expense. Bale added: “Our plan is to try and stay in this league by getting the win. It’s all about testing ourselves against the biggest and best teams. The goal is to play against the best teams and be in the highest league.
“It can only benefit us when we test ourselves against the best players.”
Wales are currently bottom of their group with four defeats from five matches but their Nations League campaign was hindered by their efforts to reach their first World Cup finals for 64 years.
That meant Page rested players earlier in the campaign as he concentrated on the successful World Cup play-off final against Ukraine.
“We had to sacrifice the Nations League campaign to focus on that game,” added Bale. “It’s important for us to win to stay in the top league. It’s obviously not as big as qualifying for a tournament, but we’re going to give it everything, like always.”
Wales and England will meet in the group stages of the World Cup in Qatar on November 29, but Bale believes their Nations League fortunes will have little effect on that clash.
“People will up their games, players might not be playing well now but in two months’ time they’ll be playing better.
“When we get to the World Cup we’ll start focusing on the other teams but, whatever they’re doing, now is not what they’re going to do in two months’ time.”
Page used Bale as a 64th-minute substitute in Brussels on Thursday, arguing that jet lag made it important to tread warily with his key player.
But he is ready to launch Bale at the Poles from the start and said: “Gareth did really well when he came on and he’s put himself in a position where he could start.
“There’ll be no surprises when you see the team sheet.”