Wales and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has said his nation is heading into unknown territory when the take on Israel on Sunday when they’ll attempt to qualify for their first major tournament for the first time since 1958.
The Los Blancos forward scored an 82nd minute winner against Cyprus in Nicosia on Thursday evening – the first time Wales have won there since 1992 – to put his nation just three points away from qualifying for the European Championships in France next summer.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the 25-year-old said the Wales players have never known what it’s like to be within touching distance of a major championship adding that they will need to be united and work hard for each other on Sunday.
“We’ve never done it so I’m guessing it’s going to be hard. But this group is focused, we really know what we need to do and hopefully we can deliver on Sunday. It would probably be the best thing we’ve achieved. If we can get across the line it’ll be an amazing thing, not just for us but the whole nation and the whole of Welsh football. We know what’s coming. All out attention has been focused on the Cyprus game, we haven’t thought about the Israel game at all,” he stated.
About his all-important goal, he said: “I’ve not scored too many better [headers] and at a vital time, which was important. Obviously it wasn’t our best performance in terms of attacking but we defended well as a unit and showed again what a good team we are.”
