Bale breaks scoring record as Giggs kicks off with big victory
Giggs himself insisted there would be no let-up in his new regime after marking his first game in charge with the 6-0 thrashing of China.
Bale’s record-breaking hattrick, a Sam Vokes double and a goal by birthday boy Harry Wilson helped Wales cruise through in Nanning to set up a China Cup final date with either the Czech Republic or Uruguay.
It was an impressive start to the Giggs era, albeit against timid Chinese opposition, but theformermanchesterunited star is determined to raise the competitiveness in his squad.
“We want to get that strength in depth,” Giggs said. “Sometimes that has been an Achilles heel. If we have two or three players out then we struggle. We don’t want that any more.
“We want a competitive squad. If someone is missing through injury or suspension then we have someone to come in.
“There were some really good performances, Declan John was outstanding and it was a great night for a lot of individuals.
“That’s what we want, players looking over their shoulder.
“I was brought up in an environment where training was sometimes more difficult than the games and that is the kind of atmosphere that I want to generate.”
Bale fired Wales ahead at the Guanxi Sports Center within two minutes and had added his second before the first quarter was up.
Vokes’ first and a terrific Wilson strike – the midfielder scoring on his 21st birthday and on a night when he won his second cap more than four years after becoming Wales’ youngest-ever player – made it 4-0 by half-time. It was six by the 62-minute mark as Vokes added another and Bale completed his first Wales hat-trick, in the process becoming his country’s record goalscorer by eclipsing Rush’s 28-goal mark.
“It is a tremendous achievement for Gareth, to be the top goalscorerinfrontofsomeone like Ian Rush (pictured) – a leg- endary goalscorer and probably one of the best I have ever seen,” Giggs said.
“Probably once upon a time it was a record that many people thought would not get beaten.
“Butgarethhasnotonlybeat it, he will carry on scoring as he is a tremendous talent.
“It’s a fantastic moment for Gareth, he fully deserves it, and I saw things we can work on.
“We only had two days to prepare and it was difficult because of the travelling. But I was delighted and it was great to see Chris Gunter become the most-capped outfield player. That is a great achievement for Chris.”