We’re not sure we’re buying Gareth Bale’s explanation of that tackle on John O’Shea.
The Welsh talisman didn’t appear to be giving away much in his interview with Sky Sports following his country’s 0-0 draw against the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday night.
When asked to give his reaction to the result, Bale seemed to be in two minds. While he was disappointed with the final score, he had some positive stuff to say about the Welsh performance in general. All thing’s considered, it could have been a lot worse.
“We knew they were probably going to set up like that – very low, block, make it very difficult for us to get on the ball. First half they definitely did that. Second half, I thought we controlled the game very well. We created some good chances, we were unlucky not to get a goal.
“I suppose, if you look at the last 20 minutes playing with 10 men at 0-0, a point is not the worst result. Obviously, we’re disappointed not to get the win in the full game, to be honest.”
“This is for all the morons trying to tell me that Bale went for the ball. Cowardly.” https://t.co/fgJA0S6I0P
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 26, 2017
Perhaps Bale’s most memorable moment of the match, at least from an Irish perspective, was his nasty foul on John O’Shea in the opening moments of the second half.
Bale can count his blessings to have escaped with just a yellow card for his studs-up high tackle that could have seriously injured O’Shea. The reckless challenge missed the ball entirely and could have done a lot of damage had it not glanced off the Irishman’s shin.
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann wasn’t happy with the challenge.
This is for all the morons trying to tell me that Bale went for the ball.Cowardly. O'Shea can count his lucky stars. https://t.co/JtPx83cFAq
— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) March 24, 2017
According to Bale though, it wasn’t deserving of a yellow card, nor was it even a tackle. In fact, he actually claimed that O’Shea was the one who kicked him.
“No, I didn’t even go in for a tackle, I went in to try and slide to tap the ball in. He’s kind of kicked me, we kind of collided.”
“I didn’t think it was a yellow, to be honest, but there referee’s done it. What can I do? We all worked hard at this tonight and that’s all we can do.”
Bale closed off the interview by wishing Seamus Coleman a speedy recovery, adding that he wouldn’t wish that on fate on anyone.
