Wales forward Bale on 'good path' to be fully fit for World Cup

AFP

Wales captain Gareth Bale said he is on a "good path" towards full fitness ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, despite not completing a full game since joining Los Angeles FC in June.

Bale signed for the Major League Soccer club after leaving Real Madrid, where he struggled with injury in his last few seasons. He has made only two starts in his 11 appearances for LAFC, scoring twice.

Wales, who will play their first World Cup finals in 64 years, begin their campaign against the United States on November 21 and the 33-year-old forward expected his fitness to be much improved by then.

"I think I'll be a lot fitter," Bale told reporters on Wednesday. "I haven't played 90 minutes yet, which is what we're building up to and getting the training loaded.

"We're on a good path to where I want to be. I want to try and play 90 minutes as much as I can, but I understand that I need to build up to get to that level. I haven't done it an awful lot in the last few years."

Wales, who also face England and Iran in World Cup Group B, take on Belgium in Brussels in the Nations League later on Thursday.

More from Sports News

  • Swiatek, Gauff through to Australian Open 2nd Round

    World number two Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with an unconvincing 6-3 6-4 win against first-time opponent Katerina Siniakova on John Cain Arena.

  • Sinner survives tough test, Alcaraz eases through

    Jannik Sinner launched his Australian Open title defence with a 7-6 7-6 6-1 win over Nicolas Jarry on Monday in a match that put the players' contrasting doping cases in the spotlight, while Carlos Alcaraz began his bid to complete a career Grand Slam with a 6-1 7-5 6-1 win over Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko.

  • DP World ILT20 Season 3 kicks off

    The stage was set on Sunday for the highly anticipated return of the DP World ILT20 Season 3, promising to mesmerise cricket fans across the globe.

  • Amorim sees progress in Man Utd's shootout win at Arsenal

    Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his team are still improving, as Sunday's dramatic FA Cup penalty shootout victory over Arsenal points to a more positive future after a difficult start to life at Old Trafford.

Blogs