' Zinedine Zidane: tragedy if Bale doesn't qualify '
Tue Sep 09, 2014 4:06 pm
Zinedine Zidane has declared it will be ‘a tragedy’ if Gareth Bale does not play at a major international tournament with Wales.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=146942
The world’s most expensive footballer tries to get Chris Coleman’s side off to a qualifying flier when they meet Andorra in the race for Euro 2016.
Bale is hoping to avoid the fate of Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Neville Southall – fellow Welsh legends who never got to show their ability on the biggest stage of the lot.
Real Madrid and France legend Zidane, who was central to the Spanish club signing of Bale, says watching his Madrid team-mates playing at the World Cup in Brazil while he sat at home hurt Bale.
Zidane said: “Gareth is desperate to play in a major tournament with Wales - he did not want to be sitting at home in the summer while his team-mates were in Brazil.
“It will be a tragedy if he never gets to play in a World Cup or European Championships. He is one of the top five players in the world - for him not to be there is just wrong.”
Zidane went on: “One player can’t qualify for Euro 2016 - but what Gareth can be is Wales leader.
“It doesn’t matter who they play in the qualifiers, when Gareth is always on the field they always have a match-winner.”
Wales meet Bosnia, Belgium, Israel, Cyprus and Andorra in the battle for two automatic qualifying spots in the Euro finals in France.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=146942
The world’s most expensive footballer tries to get Chris Coleman’s side off to a qualifying flier when they meet Andorra in the race for Euro 2016.
Bale is hoping to avoid the fate of Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Neville Southall – fellow Welsh legends who never got to show their ability on the biggest stage of the lot.
Real Madrid and France legend Zidane, who was central to the Spanish club signing of Bale, says watching his Madrid team-mates playing at the World Cup in Brazil while he sat at home hurt Bale.
Zidane said: “Gareth is desperate to play in a major tournament with Wales - he did not want to be sitting at home in the summer while his team-mates were in Brazil.
“It will be a tragedy if he never gets to play in a World Cup or European Championships. He is one of the top five players in the world - for him not to be there is just wrong.”
Zidane went on: “One player can’t qualify for Euro 2016 - but what Gareth can be is Wales leader.
“It doesn’t matter who they play in the qualifiers, when Gareth is always on the field they always have a match-winner.”
Wales meet Bosnia, Belgium, Israel, Cyprus and Andorra in the battle for two automatic qualifying spots in the Euro finals in France.
Re: ' Zinedine Zidane: tragedy if Bale doesn't qualify '
Tue Sep 09, 2014 4:39 pm
I feel for all the great Welsh stars who were never able to play for Wales in a Major competition.
This to me is our best chance.
This to me is our best chance.
Re: ' Zinedine Zidane: tragedy if Bale doesn't qualify '
Tue Sep 09, 2014 4:56 pm
Spot on from Zidane, Bale is a match winner, he showed that in the Champions League Final, he showed it in the Copa Del Ray Final, and no matter who we play we have a chance with him on the field.
We also have another match winner in Aaron Ramsey, as he showed in the FA Cup Final and the Community Shield. These are two players who can win games on their own which i why i'm extremely confident going into qualifying that no only can we qualify, but i genuinely believe we can challenge for top spot. 
We also have another match winner in Aaron Ramsey, as he showed in the FA Cup Final and the Community Shield. These are two players who can win games on their own which i why i'm extremely confident going into qualifying that no only can we qualify, but i genuinely believe we can challenge for top spot.
Re: ' Zinedine Zidane: tragedy if Bale doesn't qualify '
Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:19 pm
RyanW_CCFC wrote:Spot on from Zidane, Bale is a match winner, he showed that in the Champions League Final, he showed it in the Copa Del Ray Final, and no matter who we play we have a chance with him on the field.
We also have another match winner in Aaron Ramsey, as he showed in the FA Cup Final and the Community Shield. These are two players who can win games on their own which i why i'm extremely confident going into qualifying that no only can we qualify, but i genuinely believe we can challenge for top spot.
Coleman's been saying that we can't just be setting our sights on third place (which would guarantee a play-off place) - we need to go all out for top two, maybe even top spot.
After all, we drew with Belgium in Brussels last October, and that was with a considerably weakened squad!