Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Football fans have recalled Chris Waddle’s prediction that Wales’ Gareth Bale will suffer like countryman Ryan Giggs and never play in a major tournament like the World Cup.
Waddle claims Bale will have to focus on his club career if he wants to win trophies.
Giggs never played in a World Cup or European Championship. Waddle, an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a commentator, said in 2013:
It’s like Ryan Giggs, it’s sad when major players cannot play in a major tournament for their country.
Because someone like Gareth Bale at a World Cup or in the Euros would be very exciting.
I think Gareth Bale has to be at a club that plays a certain way. He has to look at that. Yes, money is important because football is a short career.
That is why club-wise, it will be very important to him to win honours in the years to come.
Back then, Bale was with English side Tottenham Hotspurs and Wales had last qualified for the World Cup in 1958.
Bale went on to join Real Madrid in 2013 where he won 19 pieces of silverware, including five Champions League titles, three LaLiga titles and one Copa del Rey.
Waddle’s remarks are being recalled when Bale led The Dragons to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.
Qualifying for Euro 2016 ended Wales’ 58-year wait for a major tournament and reaching the first semi-final in France took Welsh football to new heights.
Then they followed that success by qualifying for Euro 2020 – but a World Cup is another level again.
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