Gareth Bale was the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real Madrid from Tottenham for £85m in 2013
Viva Gareth Bale. The song, which Welsh fans serenade their captain with, includes a line about how he allegedly faked a back injury to avoid being called up to Team GB’s squad for the 2012 Olympics.
That’s why these supporters noted with some amusement that it was the same part of Bale’s body that was blamed for his absence from the Real Madrid squad for last Sunday’s defeat by Barcelona.
It was the latest in a long line of injuries that wiped out Bale’s time in Spain and the latest betrayal for the country’s football media.
He may have won four Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles and a truckload of other trophies with Real but according to some in Spain, Bale’s inaction for his club – and his continued heroic service to his country – makes him a ‘parasite’ . .
When he was photographed smiling while training with Wales this week, days after missing El Clasico, Spanish newspaper Marca’s front-page headline was sarcastic: “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Bale has played two hours of football for Real in six months and only played two games since the last international window in November, but he was the savior of Wales once again on Thursday.
It has been written. In a must-have, one-off World Cup play-off semi-final at home against Austria, Bale scored two great goals to earn a 2-1 win and burnish his legend.
His first, a stunning free-kick, caused mad scenes at a packed and emotional Cardiff City Stadium. His celebration, an impassioned roar and grabbing his Wales badge matched the goal.
Was there more than pure joy in his cry for the TV camera? Was there a message for his critics in Spain?
“I don’t need to send a message,” he told Sky Sports. “I don’t need to say anything, it’s a waste of time.”
But then he added: “It’s disgusting. You should be ashamed. I’m not excited, over.
“I can take a free-kick when I can play. It was nice to see him go in.”
While such moments have become rare for Bale in a Real Madrid shirt, Welsh fans needed no reminder of their icon’s penchant for outrageous, game-changing moments.
While that was his first international free-kick since Euro 2016, it was his 37th overall for Wales, extending his record as his country’s all-time leading scorer in men’s football.
And just to underscore the fact he’s still capable of greatness, Bale added a stunning second, taking the ball with his stride and unleashing a powerful punch into the far corner.
It was chaos in the Canton Stand, a riot of red shirts and bucket hats and a performance of Don’t Take Me Home, the anthem of Wales’ odyssey to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Qualifying for that tournament alone was a significant achievement for Wales, who had been absent from major tournaments for 58 years up to that point.
They then advanced to the knockout stage of Euro 2020 and thanks to their win over Austria, Robert Page’s men are just one win away from qualifying for a first World Cup since 1958.
“I don’t think it’s quite there yet. What a game, what a night, what an occasion,” Page said.
“The star man shows up – I just told him that’s the best free kick I’ve ever seen in my life.
“He didn’t play many minutes but at least he trained day in and day out. Did we expect him to play 90 minutes? Probably not.”
“We knew we were going to ask him for an outstanding hour. In the end he cramps and we take him off.”
Wales play-off final is expected to be played a two-leg game against Scotland or Ukraine in June.
Bale said earlier this campaign that this could be his last chance to qualify for a World Cup and that it would be an achievement to sit alongside his many illustrious performances at the club.
Now he’s just a game away.
“That’s half the job,” said Bale.
“We’ll enjoy it tonight. There’s another tough game against Scotland or Ukraine and we’ll be ready for that when it does.”
Who says they can’t muster more magic to lead Wales to this elusive World Cup? Not even a bad back can stop him.
Comments are closed.