Bale pride of Wales
GARETH TREBLE TOPS ALL-TIME GOALSCORERS
GARETH BALE earned a glowing tribute from Ryan Giggs after the Real Madrid star became Wales’ greatest goalscorer.
The forward hit a dazzling hat-trick to replace Ian Rush (right) at the top of the Dragons’ goal charts, and gave new boss Giggs a tantalising glimpse of the future.
Wales ripped apart the hosts at the China Cup and Bale’s treble took his tally to 29 international goals, one more than ex-Liverpool ace Rush.
Giggs said: “It’s a tremendous achievement, to be the top goalscorer in front of someone like Ian Rush, a legendary goalscorer and probably one of the best I have ever seen.
“Probably, once upon a time, it was a record that many people thought would not get beaten. But he not only beat it, Bale will carry on scoring as he is a tremendous talent.”
Bale, 28, a former PFA Player of the Year, has won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid as well as La Liga, but after rewriting the record books he said: “It is right up there, if it is not my best achievement.
“Anything you do for your country is the pinnacle, it is the biggest honour you can have. There have been some good goals along the way and some great moments that I can look back on at the end of my career. “But for the time being I want to carry on scoring, carry on playing well and taking this team as far as we can go in major competitions.” Bale helped Wales to their first six-goal win since they brushed aside San Marino 6-0 in 1996, which means they will face Uruguay or the Czech Republic in Monday’s final.
Giggs was left basking in a glorious first game after succeeding Chris Coleman following the nation’s failure to reach the World Cup. And Bale’s heroics justified his star billing at the Guangxi Sports Center where he was lauded.
He took just two minutes to net from Sam Vokes’ flick-on after a fine run and left-foot finish against Marcello Lippi’s China – who are ranked 65th in the world.
Bale added another in the 21st minute before turning provider with a cross which Vokes scored from via Andy King’s knockdown.
Bale then teed up Harry Wilson, who celebrated his 21st birthday by making it 4-0 at the break with a superb curled shot from the edge of the area. Vokes got a second in the 58th minute from Joe Allen’s pass, before Bale produced another clinical angled finish with his deadly left-foot from Allen’s ball.
Despite the emphatic win, former Manchester United serial-winner Giggs gave an insight afterwards into his relentless drive insisting he “wants the grass shorter” for Monday’s final.