Bale hunts for a silver lining after Russia woe
GARETH BALE says the heartbreak of missing out on this summer’s World Cup will drive him on to help Ryan Giggs’ Wales seal China Cup glory and reach the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The Real Madrid superstar was forced to sit out his country’s crucial World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in October due to injury, and a 1-0 defeat meant Wales would not compete in Russia.
That game proved to be Chris Coleman’s last in charge, but Wales – now under the guidance of Giggs – hope to lift their first silverware since 1937 when they face Uruguay in today’s China Cup final here in Nanning.
And Bale is motivated by past failures as Wales hope to mark the new era with a trophy.
“It was a disappointment for of us not to reach the World Cup having been in Euro 2016, which was just incredible,” Bale.
“We all wanted to keep on qualifying for major tournaments and normally if we do well in one campaign, we die away in the next. We were there right until the end, so we have to take the positives.
“Missing out on the World Cup makes us even more hungry to try to qualify for the next campaign.”
Bale will be 33 by the time the 2022 World Cup comes round, but added: “Every single player will tell you they want to play at the highest level for their country and that’s the World Cup.
“It’s not just for me on a personal level, but for Wales as a nation.
“We want to be qualifying for every tournament we enter. China is a chance for massive all us to keep building on what we have done and build a strong squad for the future to keep on qualifying and to be competitive in tournaments. “We all need to push in the same direction to make that happen.” Bale remains the man all Welsh hopes depend on. The 28-year-old’s historic hat-trick against China, which made him his country’s leading goalscorer, fired them into the final with Uruguay.
“To win any trophy is always good, but for your country it’s that bit more special,” Bale said. “It’s in your heart and your blood and you want to make the whole country proud.
“Whether it is in a tournament like we are now or in something like a World Cup, it’s always important to win trophies, so winning here would be very high up in my achievements.
“We still have a lot of work to come, but we believe if we play well we can win the tournament. It will be great to have more success with Wales.”
The Welsh have had to wait 81 years since the last time they claimed a trophy, the British Home Championship. They will have to be at their best to beat Uruguay, but to do so would represent a fine start to Giggs’ career as an international boss.
The Manchester United legend admits he cannot rely on his stellar playing career to make him a successful coach, and knows victory today will give him a firm foundation on which to build.
“You have to win to be successful. Your playing career can only get you so far and then you have to do the right things when it comes to coaching,” he said.
“You can’t just rely on what you did in the past, you have to keep on improving and trying to be the best coach you can.”
Giggs is unlikely to change his side from the one who thrashed China 6-0, with Bale operating behind Sam Vokes. Uruguay’s chief threats will come in the form of strike pair Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.
It is set to be close and Wales will have to improve from the China game, but victory would see Giggs start his tenure with a bang.
The head to head between Bale and Barcelona’s Suarez should be a mouth-watering battle for centre stage, but Wales’ talisman is wary of the threat of the entire team.
“We know Uruguay have some great players, it’s not just Suarez,” said Bale, who did not rule out a move to China later in his career when asked. “We know it’s going to be a difficult game and they are going to be dangerous.
“We have to be wary of them, but they also have
to worry about us.”
URUGUAY (probable):