Gareth Bale blasted for ‘useless’ World Cup and told LA move was error

World Cup 2022 briefing: Day 17

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Wales captain Gareth Bale has been called out for having a “useless” World Cup as Rob Page’s side exited the competition in the group stage. Bale and co managed just the sole point against England, Iran and the USA, and scored one goal as the Los Angeles FC man scored a penalty in the draw against the Americans.

It was a dismal campaign despite the team’s success in reaching the tournament, and Bale has been singled out for his performances and was told by former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy that he should not have moved to MLS after his Real Madrid contract expired. “Bale’s problem is that he ticked over in the US at LAFC,” Cundy told Grosvenor Sport. “And you can’t just tick over ahead of a World Cup.

“He would have been better off going to a team like Cardiff or Newcastle, doing something here and having the physical and mental challenge every single week. He’s gone out to the US and been playing in a league where he can just coast along. Why did he go out there?”

Following his exit from Madrid, there were rumours linking Bale to both Cardiff and Newcastle. His representatives did reportedly speak to the Championship club, but the 32-year-old opted to move Stateside instead.

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Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, alongside Cundy, admitted that Bale was one of the most disappointing players of the tournament. “The biggest let-down at the World Cup for me, player-wise, has been Gareth Bale,” O’Hara added.

“Everyone talked about Bale going into the tournament, how he dragged Wales there, everyone hyped him up. He goes out to LAFC to try and keep himself fit and then he turns up to the World Cup and he was useless, he was nowhere near good enough for Wales.

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“And we’re not talking about someone that’s 38 here, like a Pepe or a Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s only 33, he’s still got legs in him. But he’s gone out to LA to play golf, living the dream in California, coming off the bench for LAFC…

“And he expects to turn up to a World Cup and he’s going to perform? That’s why, for me, he’s been the biggest let-down of the tournament. He thought he could roll up to a World Cup and perform for Wales and be their main man, but he was useless.”

Wales’ star men Bale and Aaron Ramsey were among the most criticised players in Qatar, as they were unable to continue their stunning form in the qualification for the tournament to Doha. There had been talk of Bale potentially retiring from football after the World Cup, but he admitted that he would appear in a Wales shirt again following the 2-0 defeat to Iran in the final group stage game.

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