Gareth Bale dubbed 'biggest let-down of World Cup' and told

Gareth Bale dubbed 'biggest let-down of World Cup' and told he should have joined Cardiff City or Newcastle United



The Wales captain endured a difficult campaign out in Qatar


Gareth Bale has been branded 'the biggest let-down' of the 2022 World Cup, following Wales' disappointing campaign in Qatar.

Bale scored his side's only goal of an underwhelming tournament, stepping up to hammer home a second-half penalty against the USA. It was arguably the only high point of a dismal three games, with defeats to Iran and England landing Wales bottom of Group B.


Bale had prepared for his first World Cup by moving to MLS side Los Angeles FC in the summer, after leaving Real Madrid on a free transfer. Speculation was rife over his next move, with hometown club Cardiff City among those mentioned. Indeed Bale's representatives had spoken to the Bluebirds over what would have been a sensational homecoming.

The Wales captain opted for a move Stateside instead, but former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy believes Cardiff, or indeed Newcastle United, who were also linked with a swoop, might have been more beneficial to Bale's preparations.


“Bale’s problem is that he ticked over in the US at LAFC,” he told Grosvenor Sport. “And you can’t just tick over ahead of a World Cup.



“He would have been better off going to a team like Cardiff or Newcastle, doing something here and having the physical and mental challenge every single week. He’s gone out to the US and been playing in a league where he can just coast along. Why did he go out there?”

Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, alongside Cundy, added that Bale was one of the most disappointing players of the tournament. “The biggest let-down at the World Cup for me, player-wise, has been Gareth Bale,” he said.

“Everyone talked about Bale going into the tournament, how he dragged Wales there, everyone hyped him up. He goes out to LAFC to try and keep himself fit and then he turns up to the World Cup and he was useless, he was nowhere near good enough for Wales.

"And we’re not talking about someone that’s 38 here, like a Pepe or a Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s only 33, he’s still got legs in him. But he’s gone out to LA to play golf, living the dream in California, coming off the bench for LAFC...





“And he expects to turn up to a World Cup and he’s going to perform? That’s why, for me, he’s been the biggest let-down of the tournament. He thought he could roll up to a World Cup and perform for Wales and be their main man, but he was useless.”

After the circumstances around his side's exit, there may well be questions over Bale's Wales future, although the man himself has seemingly insisted he has no intention of walking away from international football.

Asked whether he'd be involved in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers in March, he replied: "I will keep going as long as I can and as long as I am wanted. It's a difficult moment now obviously.

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All very true I said before he started at LA it was not the way to get match fit? He didn't adjust to the weather conditions or fact had to play on some plastic pitches with dodgy legs last thing you need? In end he played probably less than 90mins in entire time was there... totally undercooked regarding fitness and theses teo are right harder physical game like ccfc ncastle far better for him physically and mentally... if hoes back to LA dont expect an improvement over the coming campaign ... although he as said not made mind up about coming season in LA time will tell his ambition are for wales... get it right and can be at next WC otherwise its oblivion football wise.

Gareth has Been a credit to Welsh and World football for many years. But now the thought of more money and golf has taken over his life. With respect to a great player his time to retire has come. When you look at Modric a good few years older than Bale gives all for 90 mins for team and country Erikson the same and playing with a pacemaker Bale needs to take a close look at himself and accept money has gone to his head. Its a shame to see such a great player make a fool of himself. He should retire from playing football all together and take over from Page as we will just go backwards with Page he's to defensive minded Bale would take us forward use the young talent we have which Page doesent seem to notice we have he sees only his old hanging on has beens. Keeping faith in his over aged little friends. Ramsey Bale both a let down and as for Hennesey should consider taking up kick boxing what an idiot lost us that game. Time for a clear out Dads army players out let's start again.

I believe we still need Bale and Ramsey with Wales, yes maybe off the bench players when fully fit but ultimately it's not just on the field playing, it's the whole package of the dressing room and the togetherness of the squad. The younger players look up to them and can learn an a lot. I do agree we need to build the future squad around our young talent and adjust tactics accordingly. Cmon France

Biggest let down for me was page picking players like bale who in trainnning he should have noticed that they where "not" match fit

and yes bale himself new full well he was not upto a tournament like a world cup granted he should have been played because he was our best player but as our best player he in this instance let his country down badly

when he had the time to really get his head down an train and the goal should have been the world cup

trouble was he new he would have been picked by page fit or not.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets tempted to play in the Saudi league. The man who will end up making that decision is Jonathan Barnett and I don’t think he’s interested in anything but the money. Sadly, it seems Bale lacks the motivation to do what most of us here would like. Put a City shirt on and put a shift in.

His legs have gone,may be his heart?he wouldn’t survive championship football,and no good saying play him every other week,because it wouldn’t work for the team,the premier league would be to much as well,injuries have taken their toll on him,you can’t blame him for his move to America,we all wanted him to perform at the World Cup,one last piece of magic for us all to enjoy,sadly it just didn’t happen for him,but what a player we ve all been able to enjoy watching

Bale is a proud Welshmen as we know, but I think he was wrong to turn up to a World Cup finals and expect to perform after a real lack of game time. We've seen mentioned Modric, Ronaldo, Thiago Silva, Pepe and loads more well into their 30's all playing well. The difference being that Bale ripped off Real Madrid for years so hasn't had the game time to at least keep match fit. Time to say, thanks Gareth, but all good things come to an end, same with Ramsey TBH.

Wonderful servant to us however it was pretty plain his legs have gone.

People keep comparing Bale to the like of his own ages like Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, Pepi etc etc.

Thing is look at the players surrounding those mention above. Individually they are all superstars like Bale but they had terrific support around them where Bale did not.

People keep comparing Bale to the like of his own ages like Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, Pepi etc etc.

Thing is look at the players surrounding those mention above. Individually they are all superstars like Bale but they had terrific support around them where Bale did not.

Spot on

People keep comparing Bale to the like of his own ages like Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, Pepi etc etc.

Thing is look at the players surrounding those mention above. Individually they are all superstars like Bale but they had terrific support around them where Bale did not.

Spot on

Wasnt the support that was problem it was his fitness and tactics of page. .. all those named played at high level and consistently upto the WC so able to cope with the heat? The difference with bale was he never got involved in games to any extent and hasnt for quite a while long before WC except to fo a bit of magic like free kick... players like modric didn't have to get himself involved the rest of team naturally involved them .... I suggest it was pages tactics that stopped this as we spent more time defending than going forward so limiting bales influence same with Rambo... as we all know talented players adjust to their limitations and age to find a way of playing to suit them and the team Giggs is prime example......bale as not done anything to help himself or team as he gets older....

Pembroke allan
Agree with that
for the 1st time bale let his country down and on the biggest stage in the world what a time to not be fit and not perform after waiting for this all his career.

Pembroke allan
Agree with that
for the 1st time bale let his country down and on the biggest stage in the world what a time to not be fit and not perform after waiting for this all his career.

Yes 2016 euros he was proper fit and he had good taunement.. since then hes spent large parts of seasons either injured or not selected particularly last two yrs and it really as shown..... didn't take a genius to work out that he was nowhere near fit enough for WC but he took easy path of MLS and the $$$$$$ ... yes efl is tough but didn't see other top players opting out of playing at risk of getting injured b 4 WC.. MLS starts in feb so will have full pre season and regular season to boost fitness if hes serious about playing in euros or even next WC. I have my doubts that MLS is right for him in this respect.