Bale’s strike in the match dubbed “The Battle of Britain” was his 21st goal in 57 appearances for Wales, which is playing in the European Championship for the first-time and in its first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
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The Napoli star inspired Slovakia to a crucial Group B win over Russian Federation on Wednesday, setting up Vladimir Weiss for the opening goal at Stade Pierre-Mauroy before blasting in a superb second in the 2-1 win.
“You get caught up in it a little bit but we have to get it out of our system, we can’t take the disappointment into the next game”.
“We have to get it out of our system”. We will go into the next game with even more strength. The pressure will be on them’.
Coleman said he had expected the England match to be hard and his only criticism of his team was that the “Battle of Britain” occasion may have got to them, causing them to rush their passes and cede possession too often. “I think you have got to take chances like that at that level but he didn’t”. We know as a group of players we’re not just an 11 man team.
“We are in a fantastic position and we need to regroup, we can still progress and it is in our hands. We have got one game to go and we will now have to finish the job off on Monday”.
But for all Hodgson’s joy at masterminding what had appeared an improbably victory at halftime, his attack-minded squad selection means he has few options at the back where Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill could yet be exposed by teams with more guile than Wales. “A lot of us were calling for them but it’s easier said than done when you are the manager”.
“We actually thought his performance against Russian Federation was good. The fans have been incredible and we thank them for their support and we’ll keep fighting to try to qualify”.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and current Real Madrid winger said before the game that England could not match the passion of the Wales National Team.
“I’d have been a little bit less ecstatic (than I was) had we not conceded that late, late goal against Russian Federation to rob us of a deserved victory”.
“You could sense it”, said the Manchester United player.
‘It is great to help the boys win the game.
“It is wonderful. We played so well against Russian Federation and conceded in the 93rd minute and today we worked so hard in the second half and pushed and pushed and then scored in the 92nd minute, I suppose it shows things do even out but it is rare to see them even out in the space of two games”.
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‘We have to be ready for them.
