Gareth Bale can become one of the feared men of Euro 2016, predicts grateful Wales captain Ashley Williams.
Bale goes into his team’s final warm-up game against Sweden in Stockholm on Sunday with the admiring approval of Real Madrid fans still fresh in his senses after his efforts winning the Champions League a fortnight ago.
But now the Wales talisman is turning his full attention to international football – and a pre-tournament match-up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic – with Williams suggesting his teammate can make a massive impact.
Bale scored seven of Wales’ 11 goals in the qualifying campaign and Williams says: “In every single game, and every training session we have, there is a Gareth Bale moment – a time when you just go ‘wow’ and he blows your mind.
“You watch him and wonder, ‘how did he do that?’ At times, he can look almost superhuman – especially when he’s practising his free-kicks after a session.
“He was brilliant for us in the qualification campaign. Sometimes, when you’re watching from the back, you can almost feel sorry for the other team’s defenders because there is just so much Gareth can do.”
Bale finished the season with 21 goals and a second Champions League winners’ medal with Real Madrid after rolling in a coolly-taken penalty in the shoot-out with Atletico last weekend.
The 26-year-old will move on to France as one of the leading players at the tournament, with the only issue for manager Chris Coleman on Sunday being how long he dare keep him out on the pitch and at risk of injury.
Williams admits that others in the Wales team are the shifters and toilers, but only Bale is the true virtuoso performer.
“Gareth can win you games on his own. We all play our part and put a shift in behind him, but he’s the match-winner. He’s like no-one I’ve ever seen with my own eyes.
“It’s a pleasure to be on the same pitch as him, because he’s now a footballer at the very, very top level in the world.”
But although Bale may be in a class of his own with Wales, his status as a Madrid Galactico has not set him apart in the Welsh dressing room, with Williams insisting Bale’s ego is well within the squad’s baggage allowance limits.
“He might fly in sometimes on Madrid’s private jet, but he doesn’t turn up with an entourage. He’s the same guy I knew from when he was at Tottenham.
“He’s down to earth and humble – still a kid who likes to be a bit of a prankster and do funny little jokes.
“I can’t emphasise enough how unchanged he is. The whole squad are on a WhatsApp group, which makes us like a club side, and Gareth takes some banter and gives it out just like everybody else.
“That’s been great for me as captain because it means young players coming into the squad feel comfortable and are not intimidated by this big star. Gareth’s a genuine nice guy who makes the younger players all feel welcome.”
Wales will face a player at the other end of the ego scale today, in Manchester United target Ibrahimovic – a man who looks in the mirror every morning and is not displeased with what he sees.
Bale v Ibrahimovic will be a taster for France, but Williams adds: “We have a few things to iron out, but we’re in a good place ahead of the tournament.”