Bale: Welsh pride can expose England

Gareth Bale says Wales have plenty of respect for England going into their Euro 2016 Group B clash in Lens on Thursday.

The Real Madrid star says that Chris Coleman’s side are aware of England’s strengths but also that they know how to target the weaknesses in Roy Hodgson’s outfit.

Talking to reporters ahead of the game, Bale said he was happy that members of the England camp had taken the bait in regard to his assertion that Wales had more pride and passion than England. ‘

Bale’s comments prior to the win over Slovakia drew responses from England manager Hodgson as well as midfielder Jack Wilshere. The former Tottenham man stands by his comments, insisting he did not say England lack pride, just that Wales have more of it in their ranks.

“It’s good that they bit,” Bale said with a grin at a pre-game press conference. “I never said that they didn’t have passion or pride. I just feel in my opinion that we have more and I’m sure they have the opinion that they have more also.

“People obviously like to take things out of context a bit. I’m happy with my comments and I feel we have a massive team spirit – probably the best I have seen in teams.” Victory for Wales in Lens would see them move into the last-16 on their European Championship bow with a game to spare.

For Bale, the familiarity between the players in each team is something he believes Wales can use to their advantage. “We know they [England] have strengths. They are a very good team. We know everything about them,” he said. “A lot of the players now play week in, week out against them so we know they are a very good team but we also know they have weaknesses.”

Wales are 6.50 to beat England in Lens while Bale is 6.50 to score the opening goal – as he did in the win over Slovakia.