I LOVE WALES

clean sheets, nicking 1-0 wins, it was the perfect campaign.

“We just adopted the mentality of winners and we’ve proved how good we are. I don’t mean to be disrespectful to the team of 1958, but I believe they didn’t qualify outright, so we’re the first Wales team to have done it 100 per cent – and I take a lot of pride in that.”

Bal e epi tomi se s the indomitable spirit which rekindled dled the fire in the Welsh drag dragon: No sicknotes, no tenuous excuses fo for pulling out of i n ternational g games... and , a above all, p passion.

Nobody does pa passion like Wales. “P“Playing for your countr country should be the best part of being a footballer for every player.

“Do we show more passion than some other nations? Yes, I think we do. I know for a fact all our players, even the ones who are injured, send texts saying, ‘ Wish I was there, wish I was there’.

“Every time I pull on a Wales top I run myself into the ground. Many of these boys have been together for the last eight or nine years and we know each other like brothers. We fight for each other and to have that team spirit is really special.” Full name Gareth Frank Bale If Bale plays second fiddle Date of birth July 16, 1989 (age 26) occasionally to Ronaldo at Place of birth Cardiff, Wales club level, he is centre stage Height 6ft – in every sense – for his YOUTH CAREER c country. Inevitably, he had the

Cardiff Civil Service l last word on Wales’ extended 1999–2006 Southampton l lap of honour against Andorra SENIOR CAREER o on Tuesday, scoring in the last

AppsGls f five minutes of their 2-0 win. 2006–2007 Southampton 40 5 Speaking at a McDonald’s 2007–2013 Tottenham 146 42

e event, he added: “I definitely 2013– Real Madrid 62 30

fe feel better playing in the centre. NATIONAL TEAM

I can go wide either side, drop 2005–2006 Wales U17 2006 Wales d deep or go further forward. In

U19 2006–2008 Wales U21 th the middle I feel I can get on the 2006– Wales b ball more, be more effective.” 7 1 4 54 1 1 2 19