Depending on Group F’s final results on Wednesday it could throw up a clash against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. He is already doing it. Dimitri Payet has grabbed the headlines for France but Gareth is the joint top goalscorer in the competition and has been far more influential than his Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
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“Finishing top is better than second or third”.
The last-16 ties for Euro 2016 are revealed, with Wales and Northern Ireland meeting in an all-UK tie and hosts France facing the Republic of Ireland. “We only scored three goals, if you want to put it like that, but we didn’t concede one, so that’s a good basis for the rounds to come”. That was answered in two forms this past week and a half.
The team also spoke of their disappointment and apologized to the fans.
“We’re professionals”, Bale said when asked if the Welsh team would celebrate by downing a few beers, although he himself is reportedly teetotal.
Bale’s attempted pass took a deflection, but Taylor latched on to beat Akinfeev at the second attempt after the rebound fell nicely to double Wales’ lead on 20 minutes.
After claiming “bragging rights” over England, Wales star Gareth Bale said Thursday he was savouring the prospect of a new Battle of Britain against Northern Ireland at the European Championship finals.
Then the showdown was to commence. Could Wales really topple England and send a message that they were a force to be reckoned with? Slovakia has four points, with England on five and Wales with six. The bliss and excitement of a nation was at an all-time high, and what if this was actually happening?
Daniel Sturridge had to intervene, seemingly on fate’s behalf. Responding to popular demand, England coach Roy Hodgson fielded a starting 11 that included both Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge up front while captain Wayne Rooney began the day on the bench, though he came on in the 55th minute, replacing an ineffective Jack Wilshere. Wales nearly had it, but now England wasn’t going to let this slip through their hands, right?
“I’m not sure there’s a better player individually than Gareth in the tournament, ” said Chester.
On a memorable and historic night for Welsh football, Russian Federation were beaten in Toulouse, with Aaron Ramsey, Neil Taylor and Bale scoring the goals that enabled them to take advantage of England’s failure to beat Slovakia and finish as the Group B winners.
And it did indeed become reality.
Wales had won Group B. How did England yet again fail to deliver on the goods in a Major Tournament? “I play a bit further forward for Wales than I do for Swansea so I maybe get more opportunities to score and hopefully I can get some more goals”. If we can match the performance from Russian Federation we have a very good chance.
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England’s players arrived back at their base in Chantilly earlier today with their next Euro 2016 opponent still undecided.
