Euro 2016: Gareth Bale tips the Dragons to roar in the quarter-finals against Belgium and claims: It’s our time to shine
GARETH BALE has told his Dragons: This is our time to shine.
Wales are the only home nation left at Euro 2016 — and will again be underdogs against Belgium in the last eight in Lille tomorrow night.
It is the biggest game in Wales’ history, with a semi-final place against either Poland or Portugal up for grabs.
And Bale — who has scored three times in France — revealed the Dragon crest on his shirt is giving him all the inspiration he needs.
The Real Madrid superstar, 26, said: “We’re very happy. We’re the only home nation left in the competition, which is an amazing achievement in itself.
Milkshake brings all the boyos to the bar
GARETH BALE chilled out before the biggest game in Welsh football history by slurping down a cookie milkshake, writes MARTIN BLACKBURN.
Now he hopes his team-mates will not crumble in the Euro quarter-final against Belgium tomorrow night.
Chris ‘Cookie’ Coleman’s players popped into local bar Davy’s where Bale ordered one of the house specialities.
The Real Madrid ace, 26, said: “It was good to go out to the local village and nice
to have a cookie milkshake. It was lovely. We just chilled for a bit.”
Bale also revealed he is in line for one trophy from the Dragons’ Euro 2016 campaign — with his quiz team bashing their rivals.
The £86million superstar has joined forces with Hal Robson-Kanu, Ben Davies and Danny Ward to tackle the daily teasers posed by performance psychologist Ian Mitchell.
Bale said: “We won again today. That’s four on the bounce — too easy.
“My group are top. It was about films today. I wasn’t the greatest but Hal, Ben, Wardy were very good, they pulled us through. Ben has good knowledge.
“If a team comes last or gets a question wrong that they shouldn’t, they get a whole load of abuse. It’s good for team spirit.”
SunSport just hopes it wasn’t Belgian chocolate in that milkshake . . .
“Now it’s our time to shine. We’re very happy and proud to be flying the flag of Wales.”
Bale and Co topped Group B ahead of bitter rivals England and then knocked out Northern Ireland in the last 16.
England’s embarrassing 2-1 defeat to minnows Iceland sparked wild celebrations in the Welsh camp, which was captured on video and then went viral.
But Bale insisted: “It’s a laugh and a joke — it doesn’t really matter.
“We’ve jumped around more than just for that game. We’re just having a laugh, a joke and some banter.”
Asked if anything was giving him extra motivation for the tournament, Bale said: “The dragon on my shirt. That’s all I need.”
Bale has played in two Champions League finals in the last three years — but has no doubts about the enormity of tomorrow’s game for his country.
Wales are just 90 minutes away from reaching their first-ever semi-final at a major tournament.
The closest they have ever come before was in the 1958 World Cup quarter-final, when they lost 1-0 to Brazil in Gothenburg — the last time they even qualified for a major tournament.
Asked if it was the biggest game in Welsh football history, Bale added: “Yes, especially in my time and recent times.
“We know about the quarter-final in 1958 but since then it’s definitely the biggest game in Welsh football.
“It’s one we’re looking forward to, eager to get started, and excited about. We just want to enjoy the occasion, take it all in it, and hopefully we can get into the semis.”
Wales could not have asked for a more familiar opponent after taking four points off Belgium in their Euro qualifying group.
And Bale says boss Chris Coleman will once again have the players well prepared to thwart one of the tournament favourites.
He said: “We do our homework and we find out as much as we can.
“We know they’re a good team but we look at how to exploit their weaknesses.
“We know the country is proud of us, even if we do get knocked out. But we want to try to win the tournament.
“The players understand the position we are in and it is all about trying to beat Belgium and getting to the semis.”
Bale praised Coleman for the job he has done since taking over in such tough circumstances after Gary Speed’s death. But he revealed the former Fulham coach is not afraid to get the hairdryer out if things are not going his way.
Ex-Tottenham star Bale said: “The boss is very important. He has banter with us but you know he will give you a rollocking if he has to.
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“He had a difficult start but since then he’s put his own stamp on the team and been absolutely incredible.”
If Wales do progress, it will cause a few problems for some of the squad.
Chris Gunter would miss the chance to be best man at his brother’s wedding, while Neil Taylor has had to forfeit his tickets to see Beyonce.
But super-confident Bale smiled: “I planned everything for after the final — I was the clever one in the group.”