However, increasingly frequent injuries affected his form, and even the slightest dip in performance was seized upon by the Spanish media and Real's fans. The attacks became personal, with some criticising his Spanish and others - even team-mates such as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois - mocking him for playing golf and staying in rather than socialising at night. I remember Cristiano getting stick early doors," Wales manager Ryan Giggs said at the time. It's a club like no other where the white handkerchiefs come out if they don't like you.
That's just the way it is. Last year, the animosity reached a stage where Real manager Zinedine Zidane said it would be "best for everyone" if Bale left.
Although Bale ignored the Bernabeu jeers and stayed in Madrid, his opportunities to play with Wales felt increasingly like an escape from the hostility - and Wales were happy to offer that haven. While Welsh supporters loved Bale for all his glorious successes with club and country, they seemed to grow even closer to him because of this turbulent period. Wales fans felt protective of him, one of their own. Bale cherishes the bond he has with those he dubbed the "Red Wall", and that was clearer than ever when he took aim at his critics this season.
When Spanish media questioned Bale's return to training with Wales after an injury had ruled him out for Real, the club's former striker and director of football Predrag Mijatovic claimed Bale prioritised Wales - and even his interest in golf - over his club side. That prompted one Wales fan to print a flag, which he displayed at November's Euro qualifier against Hungary, reading: "Wales. In that order. After Wales beat Hungary to seal qualification, Bale was handed the banner and was pictured holding it alongside his team-mates.
It did not go down well. In fact, Spanish newspaper Marca's response was the headline: "Disrespectful. Again Bale brushed off the criticism, pointing out it was a joke and that he was hardly going to stop celebrating after Wales had qualified for only a third major tournament in their history.
Besides, he simply did not care. When Real returned to training after the season was halted because of coronavirus, a group of players struck a pose for a photographer. Among them was Bale, mimicking a golf shot. In Wales, the whole episode only enhanced his popularity. Supporters have plenty of reasons to adore their country's greatest player but perhaps what gives them that special sense of kinship with Bale is that they can identify with him; that they can see themselves, the Welsh fan, in him.
While Bale has produced a vast body of work to establish his legendary status, his masterpiece was Euro He was one of the chief proponents of Wales' motto for that campaign, 'Together Stronger', so there is no chance he would accept more credit than any of the team-mates he referred to as "brothers" in France. Even when you consider the significant contributions of all players and staff, however, Bale still stands out.
Laying the foundations for this success took years. There were growing pains under John Toshack and an evolution in style under Gary Speed, whose death profoundly affected a young Wales squad but also brought them closer through a shared grief.
Chris Coleman, a friend of Speed's, took on the project and, although he struggled initially, he knew he had one of Wales' finest generations of players at his disposal. In qualifying for Euro , Bale scored seven and assisted two of Wales' 11 goals. Three of those were winning goals, as time and again he proved his country's saviour. Qualifying itself was a seismic achievement for Wales, ending their year absence from major tournaments and banishing a history of excruciating near misses.
Then the tournament in France gave Wales a golden summer which exceeded their most outlandish dreams. Those in Bordeaux on 11 June will never forget the sunshine, the stirring Welsh anthem, the disbelieving faces in red shirts, pinching themselves to check that this really was happening.
It was Bale who gave them the first taste of that rare ecstasy of watching your country score in a major championship; his free-kick against Slovakia sending the Red Wall in the stadium - and in fan parks up and down Wales - into raptures. He scored with another free-kick against England and then again from open play in the demolition of Russia under lilac skies in Toulouse, for many the single most joyous match of their lives. He graduated high school in with of course Grade A in PE.
He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate. Bale began his professional career playing for Southampton, as a left back, getting reputation as a free kick specialist. After he transfered to Tottenham Hotspur in , his team gave him a more offensive role. After an initial rocky period at the Lane, he put in a string of dazzling performances both domestically and in Europe that attracted the attention of clubs across the continent.
Real Madrid came calling, and he currently plays for a star studded side with the likes of Ronaldo, Benzema, Khedira, James and Kroos as his teammates. Hi Bale! I have heard that you are leaving RMA.!?!?!!? Atleast be in spurs for one more season and then leave…. Well, I just wanted to thank you, because a friend of mine compared your unselfishness to mine, and I wanted to see what kind of a person you are.
And the former Madrid boss believes the change of style to a more technical game has also affected Bale. In those conditions, he is practically unstoppable. The popularity of Isco among the Real fans and the Madrid media has also made life difficult for Bale and the Welshman has been criticised for not speaking Spanish.
Goal 50 revealed: The 50 best players in the world. Despite his problems on and off the pitch, Ramos believes Bale can still be an important player for Real. Not only did Bale fail to make the list, he also incredibly failed to earn a single vote from the 55 Goal journalists around the globe who were polled.
But what happens? The majority of teams that play against Real Madrid play very compact, they play without spaces, and he cannot show his speed and his power which is where he can shine the most.
0コメント