We can give a history lesson
BALE ISSUES PLEA TO LET KIDS WATCH GAME
Gareth Bale wants Wales to stage a memorable history lesson for the nation’s schoolchildren watching back home. The Welsh government have given permission for schools to decide if they want to show today’s 10am kick-off with Iran to pupils.
Wales are aiming for their first win at a World Cup since 1958 after earning a share of the spoils in their opener against USA in Qatar on Monday night.
Now Wales skipper Bale hopes a generation of youngsters will be able to tune in to savour an historic win with their classmates.
Victory would set up a blockbuster final Group B game between Wales and England.
Bale, set to become Wales’ mostcapped player today with 110 appearances, said: “Being a 10am kick-off in Wales, if I was one of the teachers I would let them all watch the game.
“I hope they do. It’s a historical moment. Some of the schools and parents of kids that I know all want to watch the game but don’t want to take them off school.
“So I think a lot of schools will put the game on for them to cheer us on and get behind us. It’ll maybe be a bit of a history lesson.
“It’ll be a great occasion and they can enjoy watching the game.
“As for trying to top the group, we are just concentrating on the next game.”
Iran were battered 6-2 by
England in their opening game and are without their first-choice keeper Alireza Beiranvand due to concussion rules.
Wales, who are 19th in the FIFA rankings – one place above Iran – are favourites to triumph at the 45,000-seater Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
However, Bale is wary of Carlos Queiroz’s side and stressed Wales cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
Kieffer Moore is poised to start up front after he came off the bench to turn the game against USA in Wales’ opener.
Rob Page’s side rallied from 1-0 down at half-time to earn a draw late on through Bale’s 41st international goal. Now Bale wants Wales to make the most of a great opportunity against Iran.
However, Bale, 33, added: “We won’t just look at the England game and think it’s going to be a walkover just because England beat them 6-2. We wont get sucked into that.
“It’ll be a difficult game, we’ll give everything and they will. They are at the World Cup for a reason and have some very good
attacking players and good defenders. We have to stick to our game plans and try to work on our strengths.
“We have done our homework and hopefully we can do as much as we can to stop their team. We need to play well and be clinical, but sometimes teams don’t let you score that many.”
Bale did not wear a OneLove armband as originally planned to promote equality and support for the LGBTQ community in Wales’ opener against USA after FIFA threatened to book players who wore it.
He said: “We weren’t too happy. I know people have said we should have just worn it but I would’ve been sent off after about 25 minutes. Of course, we support it but we’re here to play football at the same
time.”
A lot of schools will put it on for them to cheer us on