Chris Coleman could have been forgiven for rolling his eyes or shaking his head but the Wales manager knows the drill by now. Gareth Bale’s name dominates any Wales press conference, let alone one that takes place on the eve of a critical game for his country and on the back of an incident in Spain involving a white Bentley, the world’s most expensive footballer and a couple of irate Real Madrid supporters.
Israel versus Gareth Bale was how one local reporter couched a question to Coleman before a European Championship qualifier that brings together the top two sides in Group B and is being viewed back in Wales as the country’s most important football match for more than a decade.
Bale, as ever, will carry the hopes of a nation. The spotlight on him is relentless and if Eli Guttman, Israel’s eccentric coach, is to be believed, the reason that Bale has looked out of sorts at Madrid over the last few weeks is that he has been saving himself for this fixture. It is easy to imagine Bale’s critics in Madrid having some fun with that rather outlandish theory.
From Coleman’s point of view, Bale is Bale: focused, committed to giving everything for his country and betraying no signs whatsoever that the unfavourable coverage of his performances back in Spain, including online polls calling him for him to be dropped, and the sight of those fans trying to kick lumps out of his car in the early hours of Monday morning, have chipped away at his confidence. “I cannot see any difference in him at all,” the Wales manager said.
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a human being and as much as we say we’re in that industry and we get criticised, it does bother you from time to time, you get a little bit down with it. But if I thought it was a problem with Gareth, or I needed to have a conversation with him, then I would have sat down with him. He’s been exactly the same as he’s always been since he’s been with us. No mention of Real Madrid. We’ve only talked about Wales, Israel and the job in hand. He’s happy. He’s relaxed. More importantly, he’s fit.”
Where exactly Coleman will deploy Bale is unclear. There are suggestions that the manager could be tempted to revert to a three-man defence – as he did in the opening two matches of this qualification campaign – which would have implications for how Wales play further forward and whether Bale is utilised through the middle behind a lone striker, such as Sam Vokes or Hal Robson-Kanu, or wide as part of a three-man attack. With Israel set to give a first start to Orel Dgani at right-back, there is also the possibility that Wales may target that as an area for Bale to exploit.
Either way, there is no escaping the opposition’s obsession with Bale and the idea among some that the game could hinge on how one player performs. “Of course, Israel will be talking about Gareth Bale,” Coleman said. “He’s one of the best players playing football at the moment but we’re more than just one player, we’ve got a good squad. There’s no coincidence we find ourselves in the position we are, it’s not because of one player. Gareth’s a huge help. He’s been a part of something that’s been growing and when he plays well we can win any game. But we’ve got other good players also.”
This feels like one of those occasions when Bale’s supporting cast, which includes Ashley Williams, the captain who will win his 50th cap, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Liverpool’s Joe Allen, will need to be on the top of their game if Wales are to leave Haifa with their unbeaten qualification record intact.
With three straight victories so far, Israel are buoyant. Guttman’s side are enjoying the view from the top of the group, one point above Wales, and pursuing a fourth successive qualification victory for the first time in their history. Optimism abounds in the country. There will be a capacity crowd of just under 31,000 inside the Sammy Ofer Stadium, after every ticket for the game was snapped up three months ago, and much is being made of the hostile atmosphere that will be whipped up inside.
Coleman, however, did not sound the least bit fazed. “The difference in international football is … what we have to put up with is a bit of play acting and simulation. The crowd and the atmosphere, most of our lads play in front of 50,000 or 60,000 fans every week. The spotlight in the Premier League, the media in the Premier League, it doesn’t get bigger than that, the pressure. We’re a long way away from home but so what? Once the whistle goes, you’re into it. You’re up and running. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing against – it’s me against you. Our lads are looking forward to it.”
Israel (4-3-3, probable): Marciano; Dgani, T Ben Haim, Tibi, Ben Harush; Yeini, Natcho, Refaelov; T Ben Haim, Zahavi, Damari
Wales (5-2-2-1, probable): Hennessey; Gunter, Collins, A Williams, Davies, Taylor; Allen, Ledley; Ramsey, Bale; Vokes
Referee: M Mazic (Serbia)
