Bale makes early exit for Wales against England at World Cup
AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — If it was Gareth Bale ’s ultimate recreation for Wales, it ended fairly unceremoniously.
The Wales captain was substituted at halftime of the group’s match towards England on the World Cup on Tuesday due to a hamstring harm.
While it was unclear when the 33-year-old Bale was harm, it appeared he was struggling late within the first half of the group’s ultimate Group B match. He was changed by Brennan Johnson.
Wales crumbled as soon as Bale went off. England scored about 5 minutes into the second half and added one other aim a minute later, ending with a 3-0 victory.
Wales coach Rob Page doubted it was Bale’s ultimate match with the group regardless of his current battles with harm.
“I don’t assume will probably be the final time you see him in a Welsh jersey. There’s video games beginning once more in March, in Euros, and we need to get off to a flying begin,” Page mentioned.
Wales went into the match at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium needing a victory for an opportunity to advance to the knockout spherical within the group’s first World Cup look since 1958. Instead, the Welsh are headed residence.
Bale had been largely ineffective within the opening half, with solely seven touches as England dominated possession.
Bale, who made his senior debut with Wales in 2006, leads the group in all-time appearances with 111 and in objectives with 41.
After the ultimate whistle, Bale went together with his teammates to applaud Wales’ Red Wall supporter’s group who cheered on their group regardless of the loss. But he didn’t converse to reporters after the sport.
The ahead got here to Qatar dogged by questions on whether or not his time with the nationwide group was coming to an finish. Asked a day earlier than the match, Bale curtly replied “Nope.”
Following the World Cup, the subsequent match for Wales is a European Championship qualifier towards Croatia in March.
“He wants to play, and he’s got a hunger and desire, and you see why when he gets the ovation he got from the supporters,” Page mentioned. “He loves playing for his country.”
Bale’s World Cup had began with promise. In a 1-1 draw with the United States to open the event, Bale pulled Wales even with a late penalty. A 2-0 loss to Iran put Wales at risk of elimination.
But time appears to be catching up with Bale, who received 5 Champions League trophies over almost a decade at Real Madrid. He now performs for Los Angeles FC.
Bale helped Wales attain the semifinals on the 2016 European Championship earlier than the group misplaced to eventual champion Portugal. Wales certified for final 12 months’s pandemic-delayed Euro 2020, the place it misplaced to Denmark within the spherical of 16.
After 9 years with Real Madrid, Bale got here to the United States this previous season to play for LAFC in Major League Soccer, signing a deal price slightly below $2.4 million.
He was restricted to solely two begins due to accidents, however he helped LAFC win the MLS Cup when he scored the game-tying aim deep into stoppage time of additional time towards the Philadelphia Union. LAFC prevailed in a penalty shootout for its first championship.
It was Bale’s third aim with LAFC and his first since Aug. 6 towards Real Salt Lake. At 128 minutes, it was additionally the most recent aim scored in MLS’ 27 seasons.
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