BALE & HEARTY

Wales superstar Gareth says he is fully fit for Qatar and ready to ‘seize the moment’

GARETH BALE insists he is fully fit for Wales after admitting he was praying he would reach the World Cup without injury.

Skipper and record scorer Bale will spearhead the Welsh campaign in Qatar after winning the MSL Cup with Los Angeles FC. He is set to lead out Wales next Monday in Qatar against USA before further

Group B games against Iran and England.

It will be Wales’s first appearance at a finals since

1958 and no one is more determined than Bale to make the most of the opportunity.

Bale, 33, has started only two games in America and has not played a full 90 minutes for his US club since joining this summer.

And he admits he was worried he would end up missing the entire tournament due to a lack of match-fitness.

Bale said: “It has been difficult hearing the stories of people going down injured and missing the World Cup.

“Speaking to the boys, even for them having to play at the weekend was tough. We were praying not to have an injury at all because this is such a big occasion. But we are here now, raring to go.

“It is something everyone dreams of doing. It will be a special occasion and something the whole nation is proud of.”

Bale says Wales have been done few favours by the draw but promised fans that their eyes are on the knockout stages. “We are in the most difficult group on paper,” the former Tottenham and Real Madrid star said.

“Some people think it is success just qualifying for this tournament but we’ll be doing everything we can to get out of the group and go as far as we can.”

Wales, who fly out to Qatar today, play three games in nine days. It is a hectic schedule for manager Rob Page (above) and his men but Bale has vowed to embrace it.

He insisted: “I’m 100 percent fit and ready to go. If I need to play three 90s I’ll play three 90s.”

Wales and Bale will wear the ‘Onelove’ captain’s armband in support of LGBTQ+ rights in Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal.

Bale said: “For us as footballers it has been a difficult subject to talk about.

“If we can shed light on the problems, it is useful.

“We have spoken to the FAW who have been speaking to the Welsh government who have been speaking to Qatar.

“They are working on these issues and we as players are supportive.

“The most we can do is raise awareness and it is for people higher to make those decisions and hopefully make a change for the better. We’ll be doing as much as we can to get change there.”