TEACH FOR THE STARS

Bale wants to give generation of youngsters the chance to savour an historic win with classmates as Welsh government give green light for kids to watch crucial Iran clash at school

GARETH BALE wants Wales to stage a memorable history lesson for the nation’s schoolkids watching at 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-ever win at a World Cup.

They drew two and lost one in their only previous appearance in 1958 – and earned a share of the spoils against USA in their opener in Qatar.

Now, Wales skipper Bale hopes a generation of youngsters will be able to tune in to savour a historic win with their classmates.

Victory would set up a blockbuster final Group B game between Wales and England.

And Bale – set to become Wales’ most capped player today with 110 appearances – said: “Being a 10am kick-off in Wales, if I was one of the teachers, I’d 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 will 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 and that’s all we are going to do.” Iran were battered 6-2 in their opening game with England 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 Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.

But Bale is wary of Carlos Queiroz’s side and stresses that Wales cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.

Kieffer Moore (below) is poised to start up front after he came off the bench to turn the game against USA.

Rob Page’s side rallied from 1-0 down at half-time to earn a draw late on through Bale’s 41st international goal.

And now the skipper wants Wales to make the most of a great opportunity against Iran.

But 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 won’t 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 our strengths.

“We have done our homework and hopefully will 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 – so hopefully we can have a game where we score a lot and win it.”