The cape fits for Wales’ own superman
BALE STILL LEADING THE WAY AS HE PREPARES FOR RECORD APPEARANCE
SLOWLY, but surely, Gareth Bale is overtaking Sir Tom Jones as the greatest living Welshman. Against the United States, the captain pinned the Superman cape on once more and led Wales safely to the higher ground.
Today, the adulation will reach a new level when he moves to 110 caps, one clear of the previous record held by countryman Chris Gunter.
Faced with questions on everything from protests in Iran to OneLove armbands, the 33-year-old steps up to the plate. And, against an Iran side thrashed 6-2 by England, the Pied Piper of Welsh football hopes to mark his new record with the three points which would nudge his national team one step closer to the knock-out stages.
‘I haven’t really been focusing too much on the cap thing,’ he said. ‘I’ve just been focusing on the game. Obviously thinking about it now, it’s amazing, an achievement and an honour to represent my country so many times.
‘But it’s more important to try and get the victory tomorrow and, if I can, it will make it more special.’
A player who single-handedly elevates Wales beyond the mundane, his track record of big-game landmarks is deeply impressive. His value to the team is incalculable.
Before the World Cup, the Los Angeles FC winger had played football sparingly. The heat of Qatar, some feared, might be a bridge too far. In response, he won — then scored — the penalty which secured a point against the Americans.
Placing himself at the heart of a team huddle on the final whistle, Bale looked every inch the team leader. And, asked if he had any concerns over his skipper’s ability to play three group games in eight days, manager Rob Page was only half joking when he replied: ‘Good luck not picking him… he is fit and ready to go, let me tell you.
‘I have said before, time and time again, he is the ultimate professional. He hasn’t stopped since the final whistle went.
‘He has been recovering, he has done his own little bits today. And I think he has gone to another level now, hasn’t he?
‘He admits himself that USA probably wasn’t one of his better games over the 90 minutes. But when you need him, he delivers for you. If you want anybody in a pressurised situation late in the game to get an equaliser, Gareth will take that penalty.
‘He has done it time and time again for us when we needed the win.
‘Against Austria, against Ukraine, he was the one who stepped up with the free-kick to get us to the finals. He deserves all the credit he is getting at the minute.’
Perched on a podium to act as the spokesman of the team on thorny, political topics, Bale can’t put a foot wrong there either.
He was ‘not happy’ about facing the threat of sanction if he wore the OneLove armband. He sympathised fully with the ‘difficult’ situation in which Iran players find themselves, taking a vow of silence for the national anthem in protest at the treatment of protesters by an oppressive regime in their homeland.
‘It must be difficult the situation they find themselves in,’ he said. ‘As footballers, they have a big platform to raise awareness and have their beliefs. It’s difficult to comment on because I don’t know a lot about it and I’m not a politician. I’m just here to play football. I guess they showed togetherness and strength as a national team and a desire to make life better for everybody.’
More comfortable taking a penalty or a menacing free-kick, it’s the football pitch where he is at his most eloquent. His voice comes through loud and clear.
‘I seem to pop up in big moments,’ said Bale. ‘Maybe the bigger the occasion, the more I focus.
‘I seem to have the knack of scoring in big moments. For the team, I guess it’s good, but we are always in the belief that it doesn’t matter who scores, why or when.
‘So long as we are working hard together and get the victory and get the right result. For us, that’s the most important thing.
‘It’s going to be a difficult game against Iran. They’re a very good team and are in the World Cup for a reason.
‘They have some good attacking players and good defenders. We have to play to our game plan.’
The return of experienced Swansea midfielder Joe Allen might have come against the USA. Choosing to play the long-ball game, manager Page opted to hold his playmaker in reserve.
‘Joe has passed his fitness test, that’s good news, he is fit and raring to go,’ he revealed. ‘The medical team have been exceptional with him.
‘They are the reason why he is now in a position where he is fit and raring to go.
‘We are all concerned about him because of the extent of the injury. But he met every target and last week they pushed him to 100 per cent.
‘If he had broken down he would have been completely out of the tournament.
‘We could have gambled for the USA game, but I decided against that.
‘With the confidence that we have of getting out of the group, I want him for the long term.
‘Could he do 90? That’s something we have to discuss with the medical team, but he is fit and raring to go.’
Playing in the opening game at 10am UK time, the lunchtime sun in Qatar will be at its most intense. To acclimatise, Wales have prepared accordingly
‘This week we have trained a one o’clock every day or 1.30 yesterday,’ said Page. ‘We are getting them ready for that kick-off tomorrow. The heat is a factor, yes.
‘Iran are going to want a reaction from a disappointing defeat. They will have looked at the fixtures and forecast where they can pick points up.
‘They need to win realistically and we want to win. It should make for an entertaining game.’