" ROY HODGSON HAS A GO AT GARETH BALE "

" ROY HODGSON HAS A GO AT GARETH BALE "


By PA Sport

13/06/16

Gareth Bale scored the opener for Wales in their 2-1 win ove Slovakia

Roy Hodgson has told Gareth Bale not to question England's passion or patriotism ahead of Thursday's crunch Euro 2016 clash against Wales.

Bale claimed last week Welsh players had more desire than their neighbours and that England "big themselves up before they've done anything".



Wales went on to win their Group B opener 2-1 over Slovakia, while Hodgson's men were held to a 1-1 draw after Russia's injury-time equaliser.

That makes the stakes in Lens even higher than they already were, with qualification potentially at stake as well as bragging rights.


Roy Hodgson has no concerns about England's passion

"Receiving disrespectful comments is part and parcel of being a footballer and a football coach," Hodgson said.

"I don't ever comment on other people. I've been in the game sufficiently long to know every opponent has got an opinion, the other day it was (Russia goalkeeper Igor) Akinfeev saying we were the worst seeded team and now it's Gareth Bale.


Wales goal hero Hal Robson-Kanu believes they have the players to upset England in their Euro 2016 showdown
"They can have those opinions but I don't have any doubts personally about our patriotism or desire and that's the important thing.

"If he believes that that's the case, he's welcome to that opinion.

"But we know who we are, we know what we are. We don't have any doubts about ourselves in that respect."




Lessons for Hodgson?
Five things we all learned from England's 1-1 draw with Russia in Marseille on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has said he personally rates Bale among the world's best, but England's collective quality means he is not getting hung up on the Real Madrid star ahead of their Euro 2016 clash.

"I think he is a fantastic player, probably in the top five players in the world," the England captain said.

"He is the biggest threat for Wales, but I don't think we will go out and man-mark him.

"I think we have to go out and play our game. They will have a lot to think about our team, too.

"I think we've got a good team, a good solid team and I'm sure it will be a fascinating game."

The articles headline is a bit misleading surely "A dour response from a dour manager" would be more accurate

"I think he is a fantastic player, probably in the top five players in the world," the England captain said.

"He is the biggest threat for Wales, but I don't think we will go out and man-mark him.

"He is the biggest threat for Wales, but I don't think we will go out and man-mark him.

That will suit us, if you mark Bale out of the game you pretty much stop us,

"I don't ever comment on other people....... the other day it was (Russia goalkeeper Igor) Akinfeev saying we were the worst seeded team and now it's Gareth Bale"

What a blubbering idiot. Either comment on other people or not. Don't claim you dont and in the very next sentence comment on other people. Blistering clown Hodgson.

Quote (Woy Hodgson): "If he believes that that's the case, he's welcome to that opinion. But we know who we are, we know what we are. We don't have any doubts about ourselves in that respect."

Yes, Woy, I'm sure you do...and as the rest of the world switch on their TV news channels, they know who you are. They know who you are. They have no doubts in that respect either!

I don't see it as disrespectful I think what Bale said was spot on.

You look at our reaction when we scored both goals. The entire squad celebrated it where as its business as normal when England score.

This is the only factor for me that may get us a result. #togetherstronger has really been illustrated further!

Bales guna get ya

Jack Wilshere now having his say on Bale's words .....

Jack Wilshere dismisses Gareth Bale's questions over England's passion

Jack Wilshere is not expecting England’s Euro 2016 meeting with Wales to be a case of friends reunited.

Thursday’s Group B match in Lens is the first time the neighbouring nations have met since the Euro 2012 qualifiers, when England won home and away.

Wales’ Real Madrid star Gareth Bale fired the first broadside in the opposing direction last week, criticising England for a lack of passion and suggesting they “big themselves up before they’ve done anything”.

Arsenal midfielder Wilshere reacted with a wry smile when those comments were relayed to him at England’s Chantilly base, adding: “We know that Wales don’t like us.”

Asked if he and his team-mates were fond of their neighbours, Wilshere was equally brief and just as clear.

“Not really,” he said, again smiling.

He was, though, keen to point out that Bale’s criticism’s did not chime with his own experiences on England duty.

“I’ve never questioned the passion of one of my team-mates,” he said.

“I’ve never been on the pitch and thought ‘This guy isn’t worried about this’. We all care. We all know what it means to people back home.

“Especially now because we are a young squad – it was only a few years ago when people like Dele [Alli] and Raheem [Sterling] were 14, 15 watching this.

“So we all know what it means and we will be ready when Thursday comes.

“I have played against (Wales) before and we won so they will be looking for some revenge but I think if we play the way we did (against Russia) and take a few more chances we have a good chance.”

If there was one member in the opposition dressing room that Wilshere could definitely call a friend, it would be his fellow Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

But even those two have kept their distance since arriving in France.

“There’s been no texts, not since I was last at the club,” said Wilshere.