Coleman Rejects Rumors That Bale Is Uncommitted

Wales manager Chris Coleman has rejected suggestions that Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale does not show enough commitment to the national team. Bale was missing from the recent friendly match against Netherlands. Wales lost the match 2-0. After the encounter, Coleman stated that Bale was simply not available because of the muscle injury that has been troubling him for the last few weeks. However, the 24-year-old played 120 minutes of football in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid. He scored the crucial goal that put Madrid ahead in extra time.

Coleman has congratulated Bale for winning the Champions League, thus becoming one of few Welsh players to have done so. He says that the former Tottenham star would have definitely been with the national team had he been fit. Despite missing the pre-season last summer, Bale was involved in most matches for Real Madrid. However, towards the end of the season, he has been suffering from muscular injuries. Not much was expected from Wales in the friendly against Netherlands, who are preparing for the World Cup 2014.

The real test for Coleman and his team will come in September when they participate in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. The former Fulham manager hopes that Bale comes in the best possible condition for this campaign.
"This game was maybe a bridge too far for him. There was talk of Gareth before the game having a problem, a strain, and would he play or wouldn't he play. Thankfully he played and we can be proud of him. They won the Champions League which is the big prize. Considering he missed pre-season, he's played a lot more football than I expected and he's done a lot better than I expected. Had he been fit, he would have been with us," said the Wales manager.