Bale hauled Wales into their first major global tournament since 1958 with a string of inspirational displays during qualification.
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“We need to take it to the next level and be looking to qualify for the World Cup”.
“That’s why we’re going to enjoy it and suck every last minute out of it, because this is our time”. Every time a major championship went on, I watched it on TV, so to be involved is unbelievable. “To actually be involved now is unbelievable”, Bale said.
But the Real Madrid star is in relaxed and confident mood, insisting that he wants to enjoy the experience as much as everyone else.
“But I just want to focus on playing well and performing”.
There’s a real optimism heading into our opening game that Slovakia can repeat their success at the 2010 World Cup and make it through to the knockout stages.
Bale has succeeded where scores of Welsh greats have fallen short before him.
“There’s big pressure on the young English players”.
“Ryan Giggs was my hero growing up”, said Bale. “He was an wonderful player and it would have been fantastic for him to play on an global stage like this”.
They are now having injury issues with three key players – Allen, Joe Ledley, and Hal Robson-Kanu – but Coleman is adamant that only one of them will play.
In the case of Ledley, selection would represent a remarkable recovery after sustaining a leg fracture just a month ago.
Group B is considered as one of the toughest groups, if not the toughest, in the said tournament as it also includes world no. 11 England and world no. 29 Russian Federation.
Jan Kozak’s Slovakia illustrated their potential by reeling off six straight victories in qualifying, ending holders Spain’s long unbeaten run and then beating Ukraine. On the side of weaknesses, though, they are missing their talented goal scorer Robert Vittek due to injury, which might make it hard for them to score goals.
Meanwhile, Slovakia is the slightly stronger team not because of offense, but due to their defense.
– Vladimir Weiss made six assists in the qualifying campaign, the joint-highest total alongside Poland’s Arkadiusz Milik and Israel’s Eran Zahavi.
While English interest has been firmly focused on tomorrow’s Euro opener against Russian Federation in Marseille, the Three Lions would do well to remember that next Thursday they face Wales in Lens in their second Group B encounter. No worries! If you were wondering how to watch Wales vs. Slovakia online, here’s how. He scored from a direct free-kick.
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