DOHA: Wales captain Gareth Bale says the current generation of Welsh fans don’t know how lucky they are as they enjoy their nation’s current run of success at major tournaments.
The Welsh will kick off their first appearance at the World Cup finals since 1958 against the United States on Monday. For Bale and fellow veterans, such as Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey, it marks the end of six years which saw Wales reach the semifinals of the 2016 European Championship and make the last 16 of the same tournament in 2021, ending decades of failing to qualify for major events.
“(The fans) don’t realize how spoiled they are,” said Bale, who remembered the years of waiting to return to the World Cup.
“Watching Brazil and Argentina and those big teams play and now to be in that tournament is quite a cool feeling to have, especially as growing up there was not a Wales side (at the World Cup).”
Born in Cardiff, Bale has never hidden his love for his team and hopes this World Cup will help inspire a new generation.
“For the kids now to be able to have Wales, being able to watch them and have the poster up on the wall to mark out each game will be incredible.”
“It is a very proud moment,” Bale continued. Every time there has been a failure it has been ‘we want to get over the line eventually’ and the longer time went on it became an even bigger task.”
“To be the ones to achieve it has been incredible and something we have all dreamed of since we were young – it is crazy now that the tournament is upon us and we are just going to try to enjoy it,” he concluded.
