Come dine with me!
BALE DINNER DATE WITH TEAM-MATES EASED THE PAIN OF ENGLAND DEFEAT
GARETH BALE got over Wales’ heartbreaking loss to England with a burger and chips – before insisting a last-16 spot is still on the menu.
In Lens, the Real Madrid ace scored a fine free- kick for the second successive game only for England to strike twice in the second half, including a stoppagetime winner by Daniel Sturridge.
It leaves Chris Coleman’s men sweating going into tomorrow’s final Group B game with Russia in Toulouse.
But Bale (training today, right) is confident Wales can still reach the knockout stages after insisting he has no plans to fly home this week. Boss Coleman gave his squad the day off on Friday to lift their spirits as they went for a team meal away from their hotel in Dinard.
“After the game we were all ver y d i sappointed , especially to lose it in that manner,” admitted Bale.
“We decided to go out as a team with the staff. We had a nice meal out, got away from the hotel a bit and changed the scenery.
“A burger and chips seems to have helped! Obviously we are eating very well at the hotel but it is strict. It is nice to get a little change and it livens everyone’s mood up.” Wales were on course for their first victory over England since 1984 when they led at half time knowing three poi n t s would put them into the last 16. Now Wales, who beat Slovakia 2-1 in their opening game, must lift themselves for their final group match. Bale added: “For now we have to forget about it. It is over and our fate is in our own hands, we Russia have won each of the last three meetings with Wales, outscoring them by six goals to two in that run.
are still very excited. We will try to embrace the occasion and qualify. We came here saying we didn’t want to make up the numbers and we wanted to give it a go and that is definitely what we are doing.”
Coleman admitted after the defeat to England that star man Bale, who has 21 goals in 57 caps, was too isolated up front.
Bale added: “We have spoken about how we need to be better with the ball, more relaxed and move the ball like we have done in qualifying.
“That is a big area we need to improve. If we can get the ball down and play more hopefully I can influence it a bit more as well.”