COUNTDOWN TO EURO
GARETH BALE is in full mind-blowing mode ahead of Euro 2016, according to his wowed Wales skipper Ashley Williams.
Bale – who is in Stockholm for his country’s final warm- up match against Sweden today – was the flame igniting t h e Dragonhood’s qualification campaign with seven of their 11 goals.
But Williams says Bale blows his mind every time he steps on to the field, whether in an international or even just a training session.
The Swansea centreback says: “In every single game and every training session we have, there is a Gareth Bale moment – a time when you just go ‘wow’ and he blows your mind.
Wonder
“You watch him and wonder, ‘How did he do that?’ At times, he can look almost superhuman – especially when he’s practising his free- kicks after a session.
“He was brilliant for us i n the qualification campaign. Sometimes, when you’re watching from the back, you can almost feel sorry for the other team’s defenders because there is just so much Gareth can do.”
Bale finished the season with 21 goals and a second Champions League winner’s medal with Real Madrid after rolling in a coolly-taken penalty in the shoot- out with Atletico last weekend.
The 26- year- old will move on to France as one of the most feared players at the tournament, with the only issue for manager Chris Coleman t his afternoon being how long he dare keep him out on the pitch and at risk of injury.
Williams admits that others in the Wales team are the shifters and toilers, but only Bale is the true virtuoso performer.
“Gareth can win you games on his own. We all play our part and put a shift in behind him, but he’s the match-winner. He’s like no one I’ve ever seen.
“It’s a pleasure to be on the same pitch as him, because he’s now a footballer at the very top level i n the world.”
But although Bale is in a class of his own with Wales, his status as a Madrid Galactico has not set him apart in the Welsh dressing room, with Williams insisting Bale’s ego is well within the squad’s baggage allowance.
“He might fly in sometimes on Madrid’s private jet, but he doesn’t turn up with an entourage. He’s the same guy I knew from when he was at Tottenham.
“He’s down to earth and humble – still a kid who likes to be a bit of a prankster and do funny little jokes.
“I can’t emphasise enough how unchanged he is. The whole squad are on a WhatsApp group, which makes us like a club side, and Gareth takes some banter and gives it out just like everybody else.
“That’s been great for me as captain. It means young players coming in feel comfortable and are not intimidated.”