Adrenaline Rush
Bale: Breaking Wales’ scoring record better than Champs League title
LONDON: Gareth Bale broke Wales’ scoring record with a treble – then called it better than winning the Champions League.
The Real Madrid ace reached 29 goals in the 6-0 rout of China to beat Ian Rush’s mark.
He said: “Anything for your country is the pinnacle.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs hailed Bale’s record-breaking display and vowed Wales’ talisman will carry on scoring.
Bale made history when he surpassed Rush as his nation’s No. 1 goalscorer with a total of 29 after his hattrick helped sink the China Cup hosts.
And new Wales chief Giggs says the Real superstar is ready to put himself out of sight of any wannabe Dragons hotshots.
Giggs said: “It’s a tremendous achievement for Gareth to be the top goalscorer in front of someone like Ian Rush, a legendary goalscorer and probably one of the best I have ever seen.
“It was a record many people thought would not get beaten.
“But he’s not only beaten it, he’ll carry on scoring as he is a tremendous talent.”
Liverpool legend Rush tweeted: “Get in @FAWales and to @GarethBale11 for a new record! Congrats to #RyanGiggs on your 1st game.”
Bale’s hattrick – his first in national colours – as well as a double from Sam Vokes and a debut international goal for 21st birthday boy Harry Wilson handed Giggs a dream start on his fulltime managerial bow.
And even the fanatical Chinese crowd, who have mobbed Bale since he arrived on Tuesday following a 7,500-mile trip from Madrid, celebrated his triple strike with cheers and applause.
Bale left the field in the second half to a hero’s reception from the locals and vindicated the decision from tournament organisers to invite the Dragons to the Far East for this four-team competition.
Bale, 28, who had not scored for Wales since November 2016, said: “It’s a massive honour to break any record for your country. It’s great.
“There have been some good goals and great moments along the way which I can look back on at the end of my career.
“But for the time being I still want to carry on scoring, carry on playing well and taking this team as far as we can go in major competitions.”
Bale showed few signs of jetlag as he beat two men and fired a left-foot shot from 15 yards into the roof of the net after just 118 seconds. He then moved level with Rush on 20 minutes by pouncing on more poor defending from Marcello Lippi’s woeful side to run clean through and slot home.
Vokes’ flicked finish and a curling effort from the impressive Wilson sealed a perfect opening 45 minutes of Giggs’ reign as Wales raced into a 4-0 half-time lead.
Burnley hitman Vokes made it five as he calmly stroked the ball home following a neat Wilson pass.
Bale notched is landmark goal on 62 minutes as he latched on to Joe Allen’s lofted pass and netted with his final touch of the match.
Giggs congratulated Bale on his way off as Wales netted six for the first time since beating San Marino 6-0 in 1996.
Yet the Manchester United legend, who saw Chris Gunter become Wales’ most-capped outfield player with his 86th appearance, wants further improvement.
Giggs added: “It was a great result but we have things we can work on.
“We wanted to get that strength in depth. If we have two or three players out, then we struggle. We don’t want that any more.”