Gareth Bale wants to help Wales stage a memorable history lesson for the nation’s school-kids watching back home.
The Welsh government have given permission for schools to decide if they want to show this morning’s 10am kick off with Iran to pupils. Wales are aiming for their first-ever win at a World Cup after drawing three games before losing to Brazil in the country’s only previous appearance in 1958.
Now, 64 years on, Wales skipper Bale hopes a generation of youngsters will be able to tune in to savour a memorable display with their classmates. Victory would set up a blockbuster final Group B game between Wales and England with the winner likely to finish top.
Bale, set to become Wales’ most capped player today with 110 appearances, said: “Being a 10am kick off in Wales, if I was one of the teachers I would let them all watch the game. I hope they do.
“It’s a historical moment. Some of the schools and parents of kids that I know all want to watch the game but don’t want to take them off school.
“So I think a lot of schools will put the game on for them to cheer us on and get behind us. It’ll maybe be a bit of a history lesson. It’ll be a great occasion and they can enjoy watching the game.
“As for trying to top the group , we are just concentrating on the next game and that’s all we are going to do. Whoever wins puts themselves in a great position to qualify. I think both teams want to win and score goals so I’m sure it will be an entertaining game.”
Iran were battered 6-2 in their opening game to England and are without their first choice keeper Alireza Beiranvand due to concussion rules. Wales, who are 20th in the FIFA rankings, one place above Iran, are favourites to triumph at the 40,000 Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
But Bale is wary of Carlos Queiroz’s side and stresses Wales cannot afford to underestimate their opponents. Kieffer Moore is poised to start upfront after he came off the bench to turn the game against USA in Wales’ opener.
Rob Page’s side rallied from 1-0 down at half-time to earn a draw late on through Bale’s 41st international goal. And now Bale wants Wales to make the most of a great opportunity against Iran.
But Bale,33, added: “We won’t just look at the England game and think it’s going to be a walkover just because England beat them 6-2. We wont get sucked into that.
“It’ll be a difficult game, we’ll give everything and they will. They are at the World Cup for a reason and have some very good attacking players and good defenders. We have to stick to our game plans and try to work our strengths.
“We have done our homework and hopefully we can do as much as we can to stop their team. We need to play well and be clinical, but sometimes teams don’t let you score that many so hopefully we can have a game where we score a lot and win it.”
