When Gareth Bale
lines up for Wales as they kick off their Euro 2016 campaign against Slovakia
this summer he will be relieved not to join a list of quality players who
failed to make an appearance at a major International tournament.
Alfredo de Stefano, George Best, Eric Cantona, and fellow
countrymen Ian Rush and Ryan Giggs are just some of the top names in world
football never to have played at a major International tournament.
Bale however will
head to France this summer, possibly after collecting his second Champions
League winner’s medal as they face Atletico Madrid for the second time in three
seasons in the Champions League Final in Milan, just two weeks before Wales
kick off in Bordeaux.
Bale will miss out
on his country’s preparations for Euro 2016 in their training camp in Portugal
as a result of his involvement in the Champions League Final.
Following the
showpiece event in Milan, Bale will hope to be fit for that important opening
game in a group that includes England and Russia alongside Slovakia, Bale will
be running on adrenaline as he hopes to inspire his nation in their first major
tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
Joe Jordan’s
handball in 1977, Paul Bodin’s missed penalty in 1993 and the Russian drug
scandal of 2003 are all in the past as Wales are heading to France this summer
and are hoping to cause an upset.
The pressure will
be on Gareth Bale to perform. His hefty
price tag following his move from Tottenham to Real Madrid is a burden he has
worn well and one that should not weigh him down this summer.
Although playing
for Wales he will still be regarded as one of world football’s best players at
this summer’s tournament. The pressure
will be on him to help his country progress.
The chance to meet
the old enemy in England on June 16th in Lens should be one of the
games of the tournament as Chris Coleman’s side will want to show the watching
world that Wales are here to stay in terms of qualifying and taking part at
major International tournaments.
Speaking to The Times Bale said:
"All the pressure is on
England. The English press like to blow them up before they've done
anything," Bale said. "For me and the whole Welsh team we really get
supported. They don't put us under severe pressure. We've been really bad -- we've
been 100th in the world. So to be where we are now, there's no pressure, we're
enjoying it”
"It's the good pressure
not the bad pressure of being down there, not qualifying. We're going into the
Euros, looking forward to it. Our country know if we give 100 percent that's
all they can ask for."
They will hope this
tournament is not a one off and they can build on this achievement with
qualification for the upcoming World Cup Russia 2018.
Gareth Bale will be
eager to perform away from the shadow of fellow world class forward Cristiano
Ronaldo at club level. Finishing second
in group B might set up a clash with Portugal and Ronaldo.
It will be a
special tournament for the home based nations with Wales, England, Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all participating at this summer’s
tournament, Scotland missing out on this occasion.
It is a bit unfair
to call Wales a one man team but if Bale can perform to his utmost best then
Wales could be seen as an outside bet for the tournament that let’s not forget
Greece won in 2004.
In a season when
Leicester City have just been crowned Premier League Champions, every nation at
Euro 2016 will be dreaming of success this summer.
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