Bale’s experience shuts down the energy of the fledgling United States | CHRONICLE

High-end cars that travel through the luxurious and recently paved avenues under a scorching sun. Air conditioning that flows from the floor, to the open sky. A forest of enormous and modern skyscrapers, and stadiums that combat the sweltering heat -although it is winter- with the latest technology. But in Qatar, the “country of the future” hosting the 2022 World Cup, the old school represented by Gareth Bale (Cardiff, 1989) countered the energy of an inexperienced United States from which Wales took a point in the world premiere of both by group A.

, this new North American team was formed thinking about the next World Cup in which they will host together with Mexico and Canada. Generation Z of Christian Pulisic (24 years old), Sergiño Dest (22) and Timothy Weah (22), among others, which gives so much hope to its fans, also sins for the inexperience of having a delegation with almost no World Cup experience. Only DeAndre Yedlin is the only one who played in a World Cup, in Brazil 2014, but he is a substitute.

The first 45 minutes at the Al Rayyan Stadium showed what coach Gregg Belhalter is looking for with a young team, full of vitality. They dominated with Pulisic as the axis of attack. The Chelsea man, considered by many to be the best player born in the United States, was not sorry to be the soccer leader of a team that moves at his pace.

Just nine minutes had been played and the American cast had already achieved two clear scoring chances that could end up inflating the nets if it weren’t for the good reactions of the goalkeeper hennesseywho first took a header from his own teammate and then a shot from Josh Sargentthe ‘9′ of Norwich City from England who played alongside the Peruvian Claudio pizarro and whom he considers “a father”.

The minutes passed and the United States prevailed more and more in the game, although it was difficult for them to translate their good moment with the ball into a goal. That lack of efficiency, of knowing when it is time to hurt the opponent, ended at 35′. After an excellent drive, Christian Pulisic notably assisted Timothy Weah to score the momentary 1-0 and make the dream of his father come true, the great George WeahBallon d’Or in 1995, who had never played in a World Cup.

Belhalter’s men went into the break with the result in their favor and the feeling that they were a much better team on the pitch. However, this lack of experience began to show in the second half in which Wales woke up and seemed to have many World Cups behind them, without anyone noticing that they had returned to the top event after 64 years. The last man who had scored a goal for them was Pelé, when football was still seen in black and white.

The Gareth Bale experience

“The selection of a thousand lives”this is how the statistician cataloged Wales Mr. Chip. And it is that the European team seemed to have everything against it, but in the second half they threw all the experience of their players at them. especially that of Gareth Bale, the multi-champion with Real Madrid who today enjoys football in Major League Soccer, the American league. He does not have the speed of before, but he has plenty of hierarchy.

At 81 minutes, when the game seemed to end with a North American victory, the ‘Cardiff Express’ took advantage of the “inexperience” of Tim Ream, who at 35 is playing his first World Cup. The central defender wanted to clear a cross at mid-height but didn’t realize that Bale was coming from behind and ended up hitting him on the left leg.

Gareth himself took the ball and put it on the penalty spot. His shot, powerful to the left side of the goalkeeper, became a historic goal for him and Wales. First, because he is the first MLS player to score a goal against USA in the entire history of the world. And second, because Los Dragones returned to celebrate in a World Cup after 64 years. His wait, according to Mr. Chip’s data, is the longest of any selection in the history of the contest.

Bale’s goal was a near-knockout blow for the Americans to the point that they almost lost it when the same Los Angeles FC player came within close reach of taking advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Turner who went off his goal. However, Gareth was fouled before firing into an empty goal.

As the United States thinks about the 2026 World Cup, Wales -especially Gareth Bale- want to make history in Qatar. In the next match they will face Iran, which was beaten by England, in a match that could give them the long-awaited pass to the round of 16; while the Americans will collide with the English, candidates for the title, in a complicated match.

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