Gareth Bale gets handed a role up front

Chris Coleman tells star man Gareth Bale: Go fire Wales to Euro 2016 qualification
Sep 09, 2014

By Chris Wathan


Coleman has handed Bale a role up front against minnows Andorra as he looks to start the Euro campaign with a bang


Gareth Bale

Wales kick off their bid to finally end their finals heartache later – with Chris Coleman telling Gareth Bale to go and attack the campaign from the off.

Coleman’s side take on minnows Andorra in tonight’s Group B opener with a win a must if the hope of making it to Euro 2016 is to be realised over the next two years.

And the national boss is taking no chances as he gets set to name Bale as a striker as he looks to ensure Andorran attempts to frustrate the visitors on a controversial artificial surface are blown away.

The Real Madrid ace has had the blessing of Bernabeu bosses to figure, despite concerns over the recently-laid 3G pitch, and Coleman said: “I’ve seen Gareth play everywhere: wing-back, left wing, midfield, played across the front.

“I was in Madrid to watch him a few weeks ago and he started on the right, then went to the left and in the middle. He can play everywhere and it’s no secret we’ve lost Sam Vokes while Simon Church, who is an out-and-out striker, is not playing regularly for Charlton.

I would want him playing deeper where he will have more influence on the game, he can run around players like they aren't there anyway and can smash from all angles and distance.

I would play Dec on the left of midfield with Davies as the full back and bale up front

Good goal but wasted upfront.

Agree wasted up front. Nothing behind him, the more creative players struggling with the pitch meaning no service to Bale. He'll play deeper 2nd half and boss it.

Also Church needs to come off, he's shite