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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Gareth Bale named in World Cup 2022 Worst XI after Wales disaster

Wales' first World Cup in 64 years was a disaster and Gareth Bale has now been singled out as one of the worst players of the tournament.

Not since 1958 had Wales made it to football's biggest stage, and it was barely worth the wait as they earned one point, scored one goal - from the penalty spot - and finished bottom of Group B behind England, USA and Iran to leave Qatar on the first flight home.

Bale scored that sole goal from 12 yards but was otherwise virtually non-existent as he lead the line with the captain's armband.

Team-mate and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey also makes L'Equipe 'Worst XI of the World Cup' for a brainless foul on Mehdi Taremi outside the area which all but ended Wales' hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage. Iran went on to score two late goals against substitute keeper Danny Ward to leave Wales needing to beat England, only to comfortably lose.

Poland are the most represented nation with three players, despite actually advancing from their group, and are joined by one apiece from Belgium, Iran, Qatar, Costa Rica, Senegal and Denmark.

(L’Equipe)
  • Wayne Hennessey (Wales) - 3.5
  • Matty Cash (Poland) - 3.5
  • Hossein Kanaani (Iran) - 3
  • Boualem Khoukhi (Qatar) - 3.33
  • Yannick Carrasco (Belgium) - 3
  • Andreas Skov Olsen (Denmark) - 2.5
  • Krystian Bielik (Poland) - 3.33
  • Piotr Zielinski (Poland) - 3.5
  • Krepin Diatta (Senegal) - 3
  • Gareth Bale (Wales) - 3
  • Anthony Contreras (Costa Rica) - 3
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