Tottenham’s Gareth Bale Stars for Wales in International Round-up

Gareth Bale celebrates his goal for Wales

Tottenham’s Gareth Bale was the star for Wales in the international match against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. He scored twice in the World Cup qualifying Group A game to give Wales their first win in the competition. Having lost heavily to Serbia in the previous game, Wales manager, Chris Coleman was under pressure and with his team a goal down at home it was looking bleak for him. Gareth Bale, however, did what he does best when playing for his country – he took matters into his own hands. With ten minutes remaining Bale won and took the penalty himself, sending the Scotland goalkeeper the wrong way to bring Wales level. As both teams needed a win, neither settled for a draw and in the 88th minute when Wales were awarded a free-kick on the halfway line they took it quickly before Scotland had organised. Bale collected the ball and set off at pace towards the Scotland area. Running at the heart of the defence he unleashed a left footed strike from 25 yards to bring unbridled delight to the Welsh players and fans alike.

The match report by Neil Moxley for the Daily Mail records that Bale produced, ‘a performance that marked him down as a performer of true international class’ and that Bale ‘had run Scotland’s defence ragged from  first whistle to last’.

England

Kyle Walker started the international at Wembley against San Marino but Jermain Defoe was left out. Aaron Lennon was called on early from the substitutes’ bench, replacing Walcott after ten minutes. As England toiled to break down a packed defence, it was Lennon who created the opening goal for Welbeck, crossing from the right after the ball had come to him, unmarked, in the penalty area. He also provided the short pass from which Rooney scored his second and England’s third. It was Lennon’s twentieth cap but his first in over two years since appearing against Algeria in the World Cup Finals in South Africa in June, 2010. It was a pleasing return for Lennon to international football after such a long absence.

Belgium

Belgium defeated Serbia 3 – 0 in their Group A match, to maintain their top position. Jan Vertonghen played at left back and Mousa Dembele was in central midfield as both played the full match.

Iceland

Gylfi Sigurdsson scored the winning goal against Albania in their Group E match. The goal came with nine minutes to play and takes Iceland to second place in Group E.

USA

Clint Dempsey played for the United States in a weakened team due to injury, against Antigua and Barbuda. They won 2 – 1 in this away tie in the World Cup qualifying games.

France

Hugo Lloris played in goal for France in their friendly international against Japan in Paris. France dominated the game but Japan scored on a counter attack with two minutes remaining for a shock win.

Brazil

Brazil had an easy 6 – 0 win over Iraq in a friendly in Sweden on Thursday. Sandro came on as a late substitute.

Under-21

England

Steven Caulker, Adam Smith, Andros Townsend and Danny Rose all contributed to England’s 1 – 0 victory over Serbia at Norwich.The first leg play-off for the European Under-21 Championship was won with a second half penalty won by Adam Smith. He played in a cross which was returned to him inside the area where he was fouled. Caulker, Smith and Rose, currently on loan with Sunderland, all started the match while Townsend made his debut as a second half substitute.

Scotland

Jordan Archer was with the Scotland under-21 squad on a training trip to Marbella where they lost 2 – 0 the USA Under-21 team in a friendly match. Archer played but it was his error which led to the opening goal. Both goals were scored from long throw-ins and the first came when Archer dropped the ball after twenty minutes, allowing the USA to tap in for the goal. America scored their second ten minutes later.