CHRIS Coleman wants his Wales side to be “ruthless and horrible” today as they kick off their Euro 2016 campaign against Slovakia aiming to claim an “ugly” win.
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But manager Coleman says Bale is used to being in the spotlight.
For me, it’s probably the stand-out game in the group stages, but there is no pressure on us because they believe they can beat us.
Bordeaux: Slovakia coach Jan Kozak and star player Marek Hamsik lauded Gareth Bale as “one of the best players in the world” on Friday, but warned against focusing only on him.
Driver Reece Carter, 33, was behind the wheel when his sat nav took him under the bridge, and the top of the hired van smashed into it. We want to play good football too.
Bale and his countrymen are gearing up for their Group B opener against Slovakia on Saturday, but the Real Madrid forward is already looking ahead to their much-anticipated meeting with Roy Hodgson’s side.
“I’ve been playing for Wales for 10 years and it’s been a massive goal of mine to get to a major championship”.
Yet those who believe Wales are totally reliant on their totem can point to how they have fared without him in subsequent friendlies, of which he has played only half an hour in total. But as a team our strength is knowing what we are good at and what we are not good at.
“Walking out will be something special but we’ve got to remember we’re not just here to smile and have a laugh and a joke – we’re here to perform”, he added. “We’re well prepared, training hard, and come game time we’ll be focused and ready”. “But those of you who’ve followed Slovakia’s last matches, you can see the starting XI has been quite clear and established, so we won’t make any changes”.
“We know that we have one or two players who can make things happen”.
Asked which star from yesteryear he would like to play alongside, Bale selected Giggs, explaining: “For me, he was my hero growing up”.
“I think we appreciate it more than other countries – and we just have to give it a go”.
Then we can go into the England game from there.
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.
“No, it’s never a one-man team“, said Bale, refusing to be weighed down by the expectations.
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“He is a top player, and not just for Wales”, said Kozak.
