Wales v Hungary preview: Gareth Bale says Euro 2020 qualification would top their Euro 2016 success
Gareth Bale says helping Wales to qualify for Euro 2020 would better their achievements of getting to the semi-finals of the European Championships three years ago in France.
Wales ended a 58-year wait to play at a major tournament in 2016 and eventually reached the last four in France under Chris Coleman.
Over three years on and Ryan Giggs' young side will qualify for Euro 2020 by beating Hungary at home on Tuesday.
"The experience of qualifying for the Euros was massive," Bale said ahead of the winner-takes-all clash in Cardiff.
"It was something I'd never done before and to do it again might be a bit more impressive. The youngsters have come in and done really well.
Wales 🏴
— Goal (@goal) November 16, 2019
Golf ⛳
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Which is more important to Gareth Bale? 😅 pic.twitter.com/LPFxGMqO7q
"We've got a good mix of youth and experience and it's important they step up to the plate, which they have been doing.
"We need to use our experiences to help the youngsters come through it."
Bale ready for must-win game
Bale had been out for a month with a calf problem before Wales' 2-0 win in Azerbaijan on Saturday that, coupled with Slovakia's defeat in Croatia, put qualification destiny in their own hands.
The Real Madrid forward played for an hour before making way for the returning Aaron Ramsey and says he is fully fit to take on Hungary at the Cardiff City Stadium.
"I'm ready. I hadn't played in four weeks so it was important to get 60 minutes into my legs and get some match sharpness," Bale said.
⚽ Kieffer Moore says Wales can't wait to play Hungary on Tuesday night after they won 2-0 in Azerbaijan pic.twitter.com/VNEMrxLMDO
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) November 16, 2019
"We spoke at the start of the week about trying to get 60 minutes and hopefully being a couple (of goals) up before I came off.
"So it worked out well, no problems and I'm ready to go for Tuesday."
Wales v Hungary talking points
Handling the pressure
Reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and the emergence of another talented generation has raised the expectations of Wales football fans. But Wales were suffocated by the Republic of Ireland when a 2018 World Cup play-off place was on the line. Wales lost 1-0 and Chris Coleman's reign was all but over. This time the pressure is on Ryan Giggs to get it right - and a sell-out Cardiff City Stadium expects nothing other than victory. How Wales cope with the pressure will determine whether they qualify for a second-successive European Championship.
Bale force
Gareth Bale's return to action has certainly not gone unnoticed in Spain. Bale has not played for Real Madrid since October 5 after suffering a calf injury during the previous international break. The Spanish media reported the sight of Bale training as the 'Miracle in Wales'. Bale managed to get an hour under his belt in the 2-0 win over Azerbaijan in Baku on Saturday. Giggs said Bale was "blowing a bit", but those minutes provided vital preparation for Hungary. With their talisman in their team, Wales know anything is possible.
Ramsey poser
The main - possibly only - selection dilemma for Giggs revolves around the fitness of Aaron Ramsey. Joe Morrell, on loan at Lincoln from Bristol City, performed admirably in Baku, but it is unthinkable that the influential Joe Allen will not return from suspension. A fully-fit Ramsey would walk into any Wales team. But Ramsey has been frustrated by injuries and not played 90 minutes since joining Juventus last summer. Ramsey was used from the bench against Azerbaijan and that could happen again with Harry Wilson - who made one and scored in Baku - ready to build on possibly his best Wales performance.
Kieffer keen for Moore
Among the Welsh flags in Baku, 'Kieffer Moore for Ballon d'Or', stood out. It is fanciable to suggest that the former lifeguard turned Wigan striker will rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when football's top awards are handed out. But the 6ft 5ins striker has had a huge impact on Wales' Euro 2020 campaign, offering an extra attacking dimension and taking the scoring burden off Bale. Moore has scored twice in three qualifiers and brought others into his play with his aerial ability. Hungary are without top central defender Willi Orban after the RB Leipzig man underwent knee surgery, and Moore could write another chapter in a remarkable football fairytale.
Giggs out to defy doubters
The appointment of the Manchester United great to succeed Chris Coleman in January 2018 was greeted with as much derision as delight in Wales. On the face of it, that would appear strange as Giggs is one of the greatest players to pull on a Wales jersey and gathered invaluable experience as United's assistant manager under Louis Van Gaal. But the fact that Giggs regularly withdrew from Wales squads during his celebrated career was held against him by many. Leading Wales to Euro 2020 will go a long way to silencing the doubters.
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