Gareth Bale Leading Rejuvenated Wales Into Euro 2016
The Wales reached their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup by finishing a comfortable second place in a qualifying campaign in which they only lost once and conceded just four goals
- Associated Press
- Updated: December 12, 2015 05:48 PM IST
![Gareth Bale Leading Rejuvenated Wales Into Euro 2016](https://s.ndtvimg.com/images/content/2014/sep/806/gareth-bale-wales-andorra.jpg)
Ryan Giggs. Ian Rush. Mark Hughes. Neville Southall. Just some of the Wales greats who never managed to cap their distinguished careers by playing at a major international tournament. (Cricket Fan Gareth Bale Backs Virat Kohli's Social Networking Venture)
Thanks mainly to the stunning form of Gareth Bale, Wales' current crop will get the chance.
The Welsh reached their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup by finishing a comfortable second place in a qualifying campaign in which they only lost once and conceded just four goals.
It's a remarkable turnaround for a nation that was languishing in 117th place in the FIFA rankings in 2011, below the likes of Antigua and Barbuda, Gambia and the Faeroe Islands.
The revival started under the late Gary Speed, who preached a more attractive and expansive style of play. And it was completed by his successor and close friend Chris Coleman, who has one player in particular to thank for Wales qualifying its first European Championship finals.
Bale scored seven goals in the qualification campaign, many of them winners. There is a concern that Wales over-rely on the Real Madrid star but, for the moment, Coleman is happy to ride the wave.
"Thankfully we've got a world-beater," Coleman says of Bale. "It's not just the goals, it's everything. It's his whole manner when he's wearing a Wales jersey . All over the pitch we've excelled but he's the icing on the cake."
Wales climbed to as high as No. 8 in the rankings recently but will be in Pot 4 in the draw. The big boys will want to avoid them.