MX23RW : Friday, November 29 13:38:16| >> :60:196:196:

Gareth Bale believes his fitness is 'timed to perfection'

Gareth Bale believes his fitness is 'timed to perfection'
© Reuters
The Real Madrid forward scored 16 goals on loan at Tottenham last season.

Wales captain Gareth Bale feels he is in perfect condition to hit the goal trail at Euro 2020.

Bale joined an elite band of players by scoring in all three group games at Euro 2016 in France five years ago.

Wales went on to reach the semi-finals of the tournament – losing to eventual winners Portugal – and Bale hopes to deliver in the European Championship again, starting with the opening game against Switzerland in Baku on Saturday.

The Real Madrid forward is confident after scoring six goals in the final seven games of his Tottenham loan spell last season.

"I feel good, fit and sharp and ready to go," said Bale, who ended the campaign with 16 goals and had the best goal-to-minute ratio in the Premier League – scoring every 83.9 minutes.

"I scored quite a few goals in the last three or four months of the season and my performances were getting better and better each game.

"I've timed my fitness hopefully to perfection and hopefully I continue that in this tournament.

"It would be nice of course (to score in every group game), goals win you games.

"But it doesn't matter who scores or creates the goals. The objective for the whole team – the whole nation – is that we win games.

"As long as we can get wins, or not losses, and get out of this group we will be very happy."

Bale, Wales' record goalscorer with 33 goals in 92 appearances, has actually gone 11 games without scoring for his country.

Azerbaijan Euro 2020 Soccer
Gareth Bale pictured during a Wales team training session ahead of their opening game in the tournament against Switzerland (Darko Vojinovic/AP)

The 31-year-old's last international goal came in October 2019 against Croatia in a European Championship qualifier which was drawn 1-1.

"Obviously I know I haven't scored for a while," Bale said.

"But I've made maybe six or seven assists in that time, so I'm still contributing in terms of goals.

"I'm not worried. I know where the back of the net is and if the chance arises, I'm able to take it."

Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey has won his fitness battle after sitting out Wales' penultimate training session on Thursday.

Interim boss Robert Page confirmed Ramsey had "no issues" after some recent injury problems and was available for selection against the Swiss.

"We are sat here with 26 players fully fit and raring to go and Aaron falls into that category," Page said.

"He's ready. I was fearful of him breaking down in games.

"We had a plan in place when I spoke to him a month ago about how many minutes we needed to achieve with one eye on Switzerland.

Switzerland Training Session and Press Conference
Skipper Granit Xhaka says the Switzerland squad have high expectations at Euro 2020 (Mike Egerton/PA)

"The build-up has gone really well, the medical team have got to take an enormous amount of credit for that."

Switzerland start the game as favourites having won the five games they have played this year.

"I have a good feeling," said skipper Granit Xhaka, the Arsenal midfielder. "We've had a good, long preparation phase and are looking forward to the start.

"We will take it step by step but the expectations are very high from ourselves."

ID:451075: cacheID:451075:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9466:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gareth Bale in action for Wales in November 2020
Read Next:
Gareth Bale brushes off concern over Wales goal drought
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Dolphins
17-30
Packers
8pm
Raiders
@
Chiefs
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!