EURO 2021
Stroke of genius and Elfer madness: Gareth Bale shocks and enchants at the same time
In the match against Turkey, Gareth Bale had the 2:0 on the foot. However, he chased the ball into the sky of Baku. With his two assists, he still had a decisive part in the victory of his dragons.
© Darko Vojinovic / Getty Images
Two assists and a miserably missed penalty. In the match against Turkey, the genius and madness of Welsh superstar Gareth Bale were once again close together.
Gareth Bale is indisputably one of the best footballers in the world. More than 100 million euros are said to have flowed to Tottenham when he moved to Real Madrid in 2013. 80 Goals scored the now 32-year-old Welsh for the royal. But for several years it has been stuttering in the ingenious gear of the injury-prone offensive artist. In Madrid, he played only a minor role under former coach Zinedine Zidane. He complained publicly and was punished for this by the Frenchman through disrespect. In general, Bale was last noticed by indiscipline rather than by his footballing class. Meanwhile, Bale kicks for the second time in his career at Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League. But here, too, he remained far below his possibilities in the past season.
“No fun at football”: Boateng and Kuntz criticize Bale
At the European Football Championship, Bale wants to prove it to his critics once again. The ex-Schalker Kevin Prince Boateng speculated in the ARD-EM studio, Bale no longer enjoy football. Stefan Kuntz, successful coach of the U21 boys, did not leave a good hair on the national hero of the Welsh. But he wants to show his critics that he is still one of the best kickers in the world. On the big stage and in the jersey of his home country. In the opening match against Switzerland, he led the “Dragons” on the field for the first time as captain. It will be a highlight in his career, Bale said before the match, which ended somewhat surprisingly 1-1. Bale remained pale for long stretches.
Apparently, he had saved the brilliant moments for the game against Turkey. Because in the second group game Bale advanced to the man of the evening. Twice he used Aaron Ramsey with his magic foot so that he stood alone in front of the Turkish goalkeeper. Ramsey then converted his captain’s third dream pass to make it 1-0. After the change of sides Bale could have crowned his performance with his own goal. But the noble technician failed from the point. Miserably, he put the ball in the style of Uli Hoeness over the goal towards the stands and immediately buried the sweaty face in his hands. And the failure of the Welsh national hero was almost punished by the otherwise harmless Turks.
Uefa names Bale “Star of the Match””
But Bale still had a brilliant moment in his quiver. In stoppage time, he nibbled the weak Turkish defenders at the baseline and also put up the 2:0 final score. Even though he was denied his first goal for Wales in almost two years, Uefa deservedly named Bale the “Star of the Match”despite the scoreless penalty. With four points, the door to the round of 16 is now wide open for Bale and his Dragons. And for those who can’t remember: at the last European Championship five years ago, Wales only failed in the semi-finals to the later European champion Portugal. With a brilliant Gareth Bale, who scored three goals in France.
