BALE’S PASSION THRILLERS

USA v WALES, 7pm

GARETH BALE says Wales can stun England and their other Group B rivals after insisting they have more passion. Wales start their World Cup campaign tonight against the USA, and will take on the Three Lions next week in their final group game on November 29.

Last time they faced off, at the 2016 Euros, Bale (left) said: “I think we’ve got a lot more passion and pride about us than them.” And ahead

of Wales’ first World Cup since 1958, he has the same conviction.

Bale said: “Yes, I believe that we have the most passion.

“I feel we are the most passionate country in the world and that will never change in my mind.

“Even going into this tournament, even though we are older, I still feel the same.”

Bale’s previous comments about England led to a fiery rivalry in France where Daniel Sturridge scored a last-gasp winner.

But Wales had the last laugh as they went on to reach the semifinals while England crashed out to Iceland in the last 16.

Successive Euros appearances have put Welsh football on the map but Bale is hungry for more exploits to cement their legacy.

He added: “It is not just about football, it is about the growth of our country – people knowing our history more, people in our own country learning more about the history of where we came from and what happened.

“Even us as players are still learning.”