WALES v USA

Gareth Bale is ready to lead Wales in a "massive piece of history" when he captains them in their first World Cup match for 64 years on Monday.

Wales face the United States in their Group B opener in Qatar.

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Although Wales qualified for the past two European Championships, they have not played at a World Cup since 1958.

"It's probably the biggest honour we could have for our country, qualifying for a World Cup, something we haven't done in 64 years," said Bale.

"It's history in our country. Schools are going to stop to watch our games [the second group game against Iran kicks off at 10:00 GMT]. Kids are going to miss school, fortunately for them.

"It's a massive piece of history in our country and something we have all wanted for a long time.

"We have the support of the nation back home, no matter what happens, as long as we give 100% our country will love us for that."

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No country has waited as long between a first and second World Cup appearance than Wales have done with their 64-year absence.

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That barren spell was littered with painful tales of near misses, from Scotland in 1977 and 1985 to Romania in 1993 and the Republic of Ireland in 2017.

But Wales are now in the midst of a golden generation, ending their 58-year wait for a major tournament by qualifying for Euro 2016 - where they reached a historic first semi-final - and backing that up by reaching the second round of Euro 2020.

World Cup qualification continued to prove elusive, however, until Wales overcame Ukraine in their play-off final in June.

"Everybody's dreamt of it for such a long time, so many close calls," said Bale.

"For us to be the team that got over the line was incredible for us but, most importantly, the best thing was to do it for our country, to grow football and inspire another generation, and to get more kids playing football.

"By doing that we'll hopefully have a stronger national team in the future. In 20 years' time if someone is sat here and says we have inspired them then that's incredible."

Wales 0 USA 1

They deserve it. We are well off the pace.

Surely cannot play as bad 2nd half we were awful and not in game at all

Awful first half from us, we have no chance of beating anyone at this rate. Should have started with Moore up front to at least be a nuisance as we've done nothing. Even US tv expected more from us which shows how bad we've been.

Awful first half from us, we have no chance of beating anyone at this rate. Should have started with Moore up front to at least be a nuisance as we've done nothing. Even US tv expected more from us which shows how bad we've been.

Good draw 1-1 page was right in putting moore on bench because he was able to change tactics which wouldn't have happened if moore started...

Thought it was pretty dumb not to start Moore who has been on form for club. 45 mins of football wasted. Wasn't even if tried to pass behind them and use the pace of James or anything dul as fk first half

Awful first half from us, we have no chance of beating anyone at this rate. Should have started with Moore up front to at least be a nuisance as we've done nothing. Even US tv expected more from us which shows how bad we've been.

Absolute rubbish observation and opinion. page for that team ALL wrong and me and my mates called it as soon as team announced. Laughing that you think it was a good idea not the start him when likely we would have never gone a goal down otherwise


Good draw 1-1 page was right in putting moore on bench because he was able to change tactics which wouldn't have happened if moore started...

Awful first half from us, we have no chance of beating anyone at this rate. Should have started with Moore up front to at least be a nuisance as we've done nothing. Even US tv expected more from us which shows how bad we've been.

Absolute rubbish observation and opinion. page for that team ALL wrong and me and my mates called it as soon as team announced. Laughing that you think it was a good idea not the start him when likely we would have never gone a goal down otherwise


Good draw 1-1 page was right in putting moore on bench because he was able to change tactics which wouldn't have happened if moore started...

Ok so he started with him and we did go 1 down because usa started fast
then what? Bring on James or Thomas to score a goal?....why wouldn't we have gone goal down? Because moore was playing.... as page said he went for pace simply because their defence was slow and lacked match practice that's if you heared what was said during commentary.. it didn't work so plan b was used and did it work? Questionable but we did play further up the field but moore missed easy chance and didnt score he was just a focus point for wales to change tactics such tactics would not have been used if he started game.. it was a good result no matter how you look at it as all four teams ranked above 20 us being lowest at 19 .

We'd have won if Moore started.

Page got it all wrong that team was never going to work could see it as soon as announced. His thinking was like something from a school team manager hoping the fast boys would do ‘em. It was embarrassing that first half we looked nearly as bad as Qatar to the watching world.

We'd have won if Moore started.

You didn't say fact at the end so you're wrong.

You don't know that, they were probably expecting him to start & were as surprised as most of us that he wasn't starting.

We'd have won if Moore started.

You didn't say fact at the end so you're wrong.

You don't know that, they were probably expecting him to start & were as surprised as most of us that he wasn't starting.

If usa was expecting moore to start you must assume they set up with that in mind.... if thats case would moore have been any better in 1st half as he was 2nd? Only because obviously Moore change the dynamics of game as usa tired we pushed further up field so denying them space ... yes big mistake by page but only after the event...we can only speculate that had he started result would have been different no convinced it would have as this game had draw written all over it... nothing in football is certain just ask argies about that..

Even rob page admits he got it wrong so we were right

Even rob page admits he got it wrong so we were right

Yet another meaningless statement not actually saying anything about anything.

Who are this we or do you mean the royal we as in you & what exactly were 'we' right about and who are you actually arguing with as nobody here has said that leaving him out of the starting 11 was the correct decision.

Even rob page admits he got it wrong so we were right

Yet another meaningless statement not actually saying anything about anything.

Who are this we or do you mean the royal we as in you & what exactly were 'we' right about and who are you actually arguing with as nobody here has said that leaving him out of the starting 11 was the correct decision.

Hes referring to his mates because "I" said was correct to leave moore out and he was correct? But idid qualify my statement with page admits to mistake after his initial plan failed of using pace
against them ....

You were wrong to even suggest it was somehow a thought out decision in bringing Moore on. It was done out of necessity as the manager - who self admits - got it completely wrong. That first half was tactically inept and naive.

You were wrong to even suggest it was somehow a thought out decision in bringing Moore on. It was done out of necessity as the manager - who self admits - got it completely wrong. That first half was tactically inept and naive.

Thought out decision Who said that I didn't?? At end day not even you can say having moore on at start would have resulted in different score...... page thought it was better to play with james and bale upfront didn't work so changed it... how many times as that happened in football ...