Bale fully convinced Wales can pull off shock
The odds are stacked against Wales tonight when they take on England in the final match of Group A, but their talisman Gareth Bale believes they have it in them to win and keep their slim hopes of reaching the last 16 alive.
Wales, who drew with the USA in their opening match before losing 2-0 to Iran, must beat England for the first time since 1984 to be in with a chance of making the knockout phase. Even then, unless England are beaten by a four-goal margin, wales need iran and the United States to draw their match to ensure progress. It is a tall order for a Wales side who have won only once in 10 games, but bale says they can draw on respective underdog victories for Japan, morocco and saudi arabia over Germany, Belgium and Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
“There’ s been a few shock sin the tournament already and there’ s no reason why we can’ t do the same ,” the 33- year old, who has scored Wales’ only goal of the tournament so far, said. “Everyone has weaknesses. We’ve done our homework and had meetings, and I’m sure they’ ve done the same with us. we know how difficult it will be. England area very good team, they’ re one of the favourites to win the tournament. We are under no illusions it will be hard, we’re going to give everything like we always do.”
Wales have performed poorly at their first World Cup for 64 years despite hope that they could progress from a group that, on paper, looked navigable. An improved second-half showing against the United States – when Bale won and converted a late penalty – earned them a fortunate 1-1 draw. But Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Iran, when Wales were second-best throughout, has led to plenty of navel gazing and external criticism from supporters.
Bale said: “We were hurting after the game and the day after we were a bit quiet. But we have characters in the team, who got everyone going. Training has been good in the last few days. We’ re in good spirits, we were disappointedwith the result against iran but we have a big game togo. we can’ t dwell on it too much. This is tournament football, we have to get over it quickly and go again. We’re disappointed in the results and the performances. But that’s football, it’s not easy, it’s a World Cup. We’ll always give 100 per cent. We’ve been working hard the last few days to correct things and hopefully things will turn around for us.”
Bale, Wales’ record scorer and his country’s talisman for over a decade, said he does not feel responsibility to deliver “because we are a team”. But fans have questioned the World Cup contribution of Bale and Aaron R am sey,wales’ other star player, with some
even suggesting that the pair should be dropped against England.
Manager robert page, who will hand Danny Ward the goalkeeping gloves with Wayne Hennessey suspended, said: “It’s a big ask for anybody in this environment to go four days later. I’m going to pick a team that I think can go out and compete against England, whether that’s with or without them (Bale and Ramsey). If they don’t start, can they can make an impact? That’ s always been my dilemma playing games in quick succession. If they start one game, can they start the next? My thought process won’t be any different.
“Whether they come on and have an impact or start and last an hour or 90 minutes, they are talented footballers. We’re all getting criticism now and rightly so because results aren’t going our way. We’re big enough to take it – it’s not a problem. We put our big boy pants on and get on with it.” England are in a much more comfortable position after thrashing Iran 6-2 and drawing 0-0 with the USA, although Gareth Southgate’s men will want to ensure top spot by beating the Welsh at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
“We want to win football matches,” the England boss said. “We have got to balance freshness with stability, so that’s always a decision you’re making when you’re picking a team. We’ve got a chance to win the group with a positiveresult, so there’ s a lot for both teams resting on the game.
“There’s no game where there isn’t pressure on either team and really our performance is the key. we played well with the ball in our first game, scored a lot of goals. The second game was tough er for us, we defended really well. Now we want to put both elements of the game together.”
South gate seemed in relaxed mood at the pre-match press conference, with laughter filling the room at the Qatar National Convention Centre when asked to explain the rivalry with the Welsh.
“Well, basically they’re here and we’re right there!” he said with a smile. “There’s not a lot more I can say than that, really. It’s like any two countries whose borders are next to each other. There’s a competitive rivalry. For me, it’s a great sporting rivalry. It’s no more than that.
“That feeling might not be mutual, but I can understand that as well. I live in Yorkshire. They feel the same about the rest of England, so that’s where we’re at. It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium and we’re really looking forward to the game.”
Meanwhile, James Maddison feels fit, sharp and like his World Cup starts now after the england midfielder over came a knee complaint.
The in-form 26-year-old, inset, was the most eye-catching name in Gareth Southgate’s squad bound for Qatar having only previously represented his country once back in November 2019. Maddison had hearts in mouths just a couple of days later when limping out of Leicester’s win at West Ham with a knee complaint that subsequentlyruled him out of england’ s first two Group B games. The midfielder returned to full training on Saturday after a period of rehabilitation and is champing at the bit to impress for his country on the world stage.
“It’s really nice to be back in training, obviously going from being very frustrated,” Maddison said. “I was in good form, getting the call-up, getting to Qatar and then having that little problem that was keeping me inside for a little bit longer than what I would have hoped.”