Gareth Bale said he is not too bothered about not scoring goals for Wales as far as he is contributing to the overall success of the team.
The 31-year-old winger is one of the pillars of the national team ahead of the European Championship. He is expected to lead the team throughout the tournament starting from today, June 12, when the country plays against Switzerland at 14:00.
Just like how Switzerland need to win the game to boost their chances of making it out of the group, Wales need to beat Switzerland to remain competitive in the group.
Recall that Italy who are the favorite in the group won their opener which was against Turkey on Friday, June 11.
Based on this result, Italy are currently topping the group with three points while Turkey are occupying the bottom spot. If Wales beat Switzerland later today, the country might occupy the second spot in the group.
Hence, Gareth Bale who is the captain of Wales is expected to step up his game later tonight but scoring is not a priority for him as far as the team is winning.
Though Bale does not see scoring as a big deal, it is one of the biggest concerns of Wales fans. The 31-year-old winger who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur from Real Madrid last scored for Wales in October 2019 against Croatia.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve made assists. I’m still contributing. I’m not worried,” Bale said at the pre-match press conference on Friday. “If the chances arise to score, hopefully, I can take it.”
The current head coach of Wales, Rob Page has also insisted that it does not matter whether Gareth Bale is scoring goals or not. “It’s not the end of the world. If he’s not scoring he’s supplying goals,” Page noted.
“If he’s not scoring he must be setting up goals, and he’s doing that.”
Bale has been playing for Wales’s senior team since May 26, 2006. He has played 91 times and has scored 33 goals for the national team.
With the presence of Bale and other talented players in this current Wales, the side has encouraged football fans in Wale to believe that the country can do something in the ongoing European Championship.
“It’s similar (to Euro 2016) coming into the tournament,” Bale said. “On the back of 2016 there should be expectations, but it’s a different team and a different tournament.”
On Wales’s possibility of making it out of Group A, Bale said: “We know it’s a difficult group to get out of.
“They are all difficult teams to play against, but we’ve got to take one game at a time.
“We are very excited to be here and one day away. I feel fine and ready to give 100 percent for my country, as I always do.”
Ready for tomorrow! 👊🏼🏴 @Cymru @EURO2020 #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/3cARsJXFxh
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) June 11, 2021
