'Proud' Bale vows to continue Wales career

Wales captain Gareth Bale said he was still proud of his side after a 4-0 thrashing by Denmark in the last 16 of Euro 2020. He later vowed to continue playing for his country after initially dodging a question about his international future.

Bale, whose one-year loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur from Real Madrid has come to an end, said after the Premier League season finished he would reveal his plans for the future at the end of the European Championship－otherwise it would cause "chaos".

That sparked rumors the 31-year-old could retire.

When asked if he had played his last game for his country, Bale stormed off from an interview with the BBC without replying. However, he later told Welsh-language TV channel S4C: "I want to continue to play. People ask stupid questions all the time, but obviously I love playing for Wales.

"I'll play for Wales until the day that I stop playing football."

On the field, Robert Page's men had no answer to an inspired Denmark side, which is gaining momentum after a distressing start to its tournament when star midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest against Finland.

Two goals from Kasper Dolberg and late strikes by Joakim Maehle and Martin Braithwaite inflicted Wales' heaviest ever defeat at a European Championship.

Substitute Harry Wilson was sent off as the Welsh players lost their heads late on.

"The boys are frustrated and angry, but I'd rather we go out like that kicking and screaming than laying off and doing nothing," said Bale, who himself was booked for sarcastically applauding the referee.

"We've missed an opportunity but one thing we can't fault is the effort the boys showed. I'm still so proud of them."

'Insensitive question'

Asked what he thought of Bale's interview walk-off after being asked about his future, Wales coach Page said: "To me it was an insensitive question and he has done the right thing walking away.

"Like any other player in the changing room he is disappointed but it is about the group and moving forward now," added Page, who became coach in the run-up to the tournament after Ryan Giggs was arrested on assault charges.

"Right now the players are disappointed of course but tomorrow, before we travel home, they will realize what they have achieved.

"Nobody wants to go out like that but we are not going to lick our wounds for too long. We will be better for going through this experience."

Wales will revert its attention to the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in September, but it is in a tough group alongside Belgium and the Czech Republic.

Goal-hero Dolberg insisted Denmark believed they could go far at Euro 2020 after Saturday's convincing victory.

"We dreamed about this and at the end of the day I think we also believed we could get here," said the striker.

"We have a lot of great players. It is hard to say we expected to be here but we are happy to be through to the quarterfinals."

Dolberg had not started any of Denmark's games in the group stage, but in the absence of the injured Yussuf Poulsen was thrust into the lineup by coach Kasper Hjulmand, and delivered in style at the ground where he made his name with Ajax.

The occasion in the Dutch capital was like a home game for Denmark with a huge traveling support inside Johan Cruyff Arena.

"This is something I have been waiting for after being on the bench," Dolberg said.

"I felt that I contributed something great today and walking around the city and then to the stadium it felt really special to me."

Ajax is also where Eriksen shot to prominence, and banners around the ground carried the name of the playmaker who is still recovering from the cardiac arrest he suffered against Finland in Copenhagen.

"Johan Cruyff is one of my great inspirations and this was also Christian's first home after leaving Denmark," Hjulmand said. "I would have loved for him to be here.

"I am really grateful for all the Danes who came down here. I am grateful for all the support we keep receiving. It is crazy."

AFP