“These games mean so much to the supporters but I can tell you they also mean a huge amount to the players”.
Advertisement
But the world’s most expensive player shunned the one-man team label as he addressed the media ahead of Wales’ tournament opener against Slovakia on Saturday.
‘I think we’ve got a lot more passion and pride about us than them.
“They big themselves up before they ve done anything, so we re going to go there and we believe we can beat them”, said the Real Madrid forward.
Bale scored seven of Wales’ 11 goals during qualification and has just won his second Champions League title since moving to Real Madrid for a world record 85 million pounds ($123 million) three years ago.
“You know the key if you play against him, you know his skill in the free kick and you can not make the fouls around the box and we made one”, the Liverpool defender said.
Wales match-winner Hal Robson-Kanu was hailed by Gareth Bale after the substitute scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win against Slovakia.
Gareth Bales (who else?) had given Chris Colmen’s men an early lead with a dipping free-kick in Bordeaux.
Wales and Slovakia will have a go at each other as it will be the first game of Group B in the European Championships (Euro 2016).
“We can’t afford to think about the future because we have to get there first”. But as a team our strength is knowing what we are good at and what we are not good at.
“We have done something that we have not done in a long time, but now we want to do even better”.
MORE ON EURO 2016:Sportsnet has you covered with in-depth coverage of Euro 2016 in France, which runs from June 10 to July 10.
‘I had a chuckle when England came out, I’m not going to lie.
Wales midfielder Joe Allen, voted man of the match, hailed Bale for both his goal and his defensive efforts in the game’s closing stages.
“After half-time, we did our best to succeed”, said Kozak, whose team had drawn level in the 61st minute through substitute Ondrej Duda.
Advertisement
But Wales lost that Cardiff game 5-1, and there have been plenty of dark days on the field as the current generation matured into the players they are today.
