Gareth Bale: Euro Star

It was a qualifying campaign

that always glowed with a collective spirit,

but it was illuminated by a guiding light.

It caught fire because of one player - Gareth Bale.

He's a special player and he can make the difference in any game.

Every single training session and every game,

there's definitely a Gareth Bale moment where you just think, "Wow."

-COMMENTATOR:

-..Gareth Bale!

When Gareth Bale is in full flow,

he is unstoppable, simple as that.

You could put him on the pitch anywhere you like

and he'd be an outstanding player.

Just give him the ball.

He'll do something with it, it's a certainty.

He's come up with the goods time and time again

and that illustrates what an outstanding player he is.

Qualifying now gives way to the real thing.

The impact he can have -

I mean, he's one of the best players in the world.

He's the match winner, he's the main man,

he's the talisman of the team.

He is ours, but his time with us is limited.

We have to share him with the club never afraid to spend like no other.

If only it were as simple as playing...

..doing what he does best.

But this is life as an £85 million "galactico"

and when you join the mega-wealthy of Real Madrid,

you enter a new world.

At the age of 26, you're a long way from the end of your journey.

But you're also a long way from where you started.

Little Gareth Frank Bale, from the northern suburbs of Cardiff.

He went to school here, Whitchurch High, a huge comprehensive

and home to a special sporting elite.

Rugby's Sam Warburton and cycling's Geraint Thomas went here too.

Did the footballer stand out? Spot the Bale in a sea of faces.

He was quiet, got about his work quietly,

didn't really upset too many people,

just, I guess, easy to get along with.

He was the kid who was good at football, you know?

"Give the ball to Bale" was probably our main call.

If he didn't play, we didn't win!

A guiding light already, then,

and one soon on his way,

talent-spotted by the Southampton Academy,

and not long afterwards, by the Saints' first-team manager.

Gareth was always somebody that people were speaking about,

this fabulous left back at the time,

young player with bags of energy, enthusiasm,

and I had no fears of giving Gareth his opportunity.

Got into the first team and never looked back.

There was still something of the age of innocence about all this,

a game simply to be enjoyed,

but this was also a fast track.

The next manager to be impressed -

John Toshack, manager of Wales, a child prodigy in his day,

but not as young as this.

-COMMENTATOR:

-Gareth Bale becomes Wales' youngest ever international,

16 years and 315 days,

Wales' celebrated wonder-kid.

Late May 2006,

a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago in Graz, Austria.

Not quite home, but looking very much at home.

Good ball through for Bale here

and returned to Earnshaw,

and it might just have won the game.

Gareth Bale, record-breaker - how does that feel?

Obviously, it's good, yeah.

Enjoyed every minute of the game and just happy to get on, really, yeah.

What's it been like, the last couple of days with the senior squad?

Obviously, it's just a new experience for me

and I just enjoy every minute of it,

just being around all the big players and that.

The next landmark - a first goal for Wales in 2008.

Things to do in football, tick them off one by one, celebrate them.

All preparation for what started in September 2014.

Wales hadn't qualified for the finals

of a major championship since 1958.

Here lay the great challenge.

I think at the start of qualifying,

he realised that something was possible

and I think he thought to himself, "I really need to perform

"in the qualifying and do the best I can to get this team over the line."

Not the best of starts.

-COMMENTATOR:

-Davies, Bale is waiting.

Bale with the header!

1-1!

Gareth Bale comes to the rescue in the nick of time for Wales!

2-1! Gareth Bale again!

It wasn't the greatest of starts,

but we showed true character in the squad to keep going and come back.

The good thing I like about people like Gareth Bale

is they look as if they want to play,

they look as if they're going to be out there every time, give 100%.

Hopefully, he'll be in that Welsh team for years and years to come.

The shaky start, followed by two draws and a victory.

After four games, Wales were unbeaten.

A win away in Haifa against Israel

and they'd go to the top of their group.

Bale hits it!

2-0!

Ramsey inside the Israel area,

tries to get it back to Bale!

And he's scored a second tonight!

Gareth Bale makes it Israel 0-3 Wales.

What he does as a world-class player

is he has the ability to change games

and he's done that on numerous occasions for Wales,

been the difference in key games

when you need your big players to produce,

because that's the demand everybody places on the top players

and he's come up with the goods time and time again,

and that illustrates what an outstanding player he is.

Back in May 2007, when he was still 17,

he was on the move again, from Southampton to Tottenham Hotspur.

He went for millions, but only single-figure millions.

I've made the right decision.

It's obviously a big club, a lot of potential

and hopefully we can fulfil that

and hopefully I can be a part of it.

Almost immediately at Spurs, he was more than just a part of it.

You could see from day one with Gareth that he was special.

Did I think that he would get to the heights that he's got to?

To say that you wouldn't be surprised, you'd probably be lying.

He was always a very confident lad.

You could tell that he had the ability on and off the pitch.

There had to be a stumble somewhere, a trip up.

For a time, it all went wrong.

There was a succession of injuries.

I did feel he'd got a little knock in training

and then I can see him now limping off on one leg two or three times

every morning when someone would kick him,

cos I suppose the only way you could stop him would be to kick him,

he was unstoppable.

I said to the physios, "Just leave him, he'll get up."

Then, suddenly, he came through that spell.

I was still a young boy at the time

and there were obviously certain aspects I needed to improve

and I worked hard in training and kind of proved to him

that I was worthy of a spot in the team

and when I did that, he gave me my chance.

A fresh start.

A turning point - a Champions League game against Inter Milan,

Spurs 3-0 down at half-time.

I said, "Listen, I'm not taking Gareth off.

"If we get a goal or two..." I'm not saying I felt we could win the game,

but I certainly felt we had to be some kind of a threat going forward

and the second half, I mean, he scored the most amazing hat-trick.

2013 - he was a headline act now.

Would he be any different as a person?

Four days off last week,

because I felt he needed a break

because he'd been playing so well and working so hard

and I said, "Go abroad for a few days,"

and he did, he went to Cardiff...

-LAUGHTER

-..and stayed at his mum's.

-COMMENTATOR:

-Bale shoots!

Oh, he's got it!

-I don't believe it!

-In his last season for Spurs,

he scored 26 goals in all competitions.

He's an incredibly talented player.

He's a genius, really, when the ball's at his feet.

He's one of the best players I've ever, ever seen live.

When he's on the ball, he's just like a gazelle, he's so quick.

The PFA's Players' Player of the Year,

their Young Player of the Year,

and the Football Writers' Player of the Year.

He was a target.

They loved him at home and they came after him from abroad

and one club in particular could afford him.

HE SPEAKS SPANISH

-RUSSIAN:

-Rekordnuyu summu za futbolista

-zaplatil madridskii klub Real...

-He was the talk of Europe.

HE SPEAKS FRENCH

It was always going to be difficult to hang onto him

but in the end Tottenham got incredible money for him

and it was a great move for him to Real Madrid, so it was...

It probably suited everybody. He was irreplaceable at Tottenham.

That was the problem.

# I wanna be the King of Spain... #

I think, at the time, it was one of those players that really

were important.

I think with Benzema arriving here, Messi,

Neymar, Suarez from Barcelona, Bale was, yes, that player

in the top five or top six you can get.

And in the end, I think he came because he wanted to.

I've always wanted to try and reach the peak of everything,

and I think Real Madrid is that.

For me, they are the biggest club in the world.

I always wanted to strive to be the best and, yeah,

I always wanted to play for Real Madrid.

Of course, the fans were excited, too, because it's not just

that it's the Premier league, it's that Spanish football fans

watch English football a lot.

They are aware of players in the Premier League.

This isn't a guy that you look at the stats and go,

"Oh, he scored a lot of goals."

No, we've seen him score a lot of goals and in that sense, yeah,

he was a very big target.

What the fans know in Madrid is matched by what they expect.

The weight of the price tag, the pressure of those demands -

how would the 24-year-old from Cardiff

react to this intensity in Madrid?

A galactico among so many other galacticos.

When he was at Spurs, he was pretty much running the show

and going to Madrid, playing with the likes of the Ronaldos,

the Benzemas, the Modrices, who he has played with before,

he's not so much the main man now

but he will be learning so much off those players

and playing in that type of environment.

I feel I've settled in well now.

I think it was a lot more difficult at the start

but half of the players spoke very good English.

I obviously knew Luca Modric from Tottenham.

Cristiano obviously speaks English, which helped me settle in a lot

easier. But I came in. I was excited to be there

and wanted to prove myself

and, yeah, they were a great bunch of lads who made me feel

very welcome straight away.

He's a fantastic player, fantastic talent,

and I think my experience with him at Real Madrid was really good

because I think it's not easy for a player that comes in another

country but the first year, he did really, really well

and he showed fantastic quality.

COMMENTATORS SPEAK SPANISH

Real Madrid have been obsessed with winning the 10th European Cup

for over a decade.

On the day that Gareth Bale was presented as a Real Madrid player,

the president gave him the normal spiel, which he always

gives the players, which is,

"Here you are to win things for Real Madrid,

"and the thing we are most interested in is the European Cup."

What is it, nine months later,

Gareth scores the winning goal in Lisbon to win the European Cup,

having already scored a ridiculously good goal to win the Copa Del Rey

final as well. I think in those terms, at least,

you couldn't wish for a better debut season.

A first season in white and down the line...

# Listen, baby... #

..an experienced campaigner about to turn red hot for Wales.

Beat Belgium in Cardiff, and Wales could dream dreams

as big as anyone's.

Gareth Bale interception!

And he scores on his 50th appearance for his country.

The gaffer said, "Leave it all out on the field,"

and I couldn't have run any more, to be honest,

and especially not having played in two or three weeks.

Yeah, it was obviously nice to get the victory on my 50th cap

as well and, yeah, I'll celebrate in style.

# Ain't no river wide enough

# To keep me from getting to you, baby... #

Things to do in football -

tick off the games, seize the moment.

Now here is Richards on the edge of the penalty area.

Sweeps it towards Bale for a header!

Gareth Bale, would you believe it?

A man on a mission to take Wales to France.

I consider him... I could be biased possibly but I don't think

I'm being biased in saying he's one of the best in the world.

So, it's a huge privilege to have in our team, in our camp.

I've always said what's amazing about Gareth, when he turns up,

is he's here to give absolutely everything for his country.

I think you can see from not just the last few years with Wales

but especially the qualifying campaign, just how important

he is to us and will be, I'm sure again, in the tournament.

Making the Welsh dream come true.

But back in Madrid, he caught a strain of second season blues.

Should he shoot? Should he pass?

Had the 85-million-quid Bale forgotten how to kick the ball?

A few Real Madrid fans decided to remind him.

The flipside of obsession - the other face of Spanish passion.

Still a headline act, just very different headlines.

"Marca" means score

and the press had a target, no doubt.

Doubts and dips in form are good for business.

I think it's not the fault of the people.

Let's say, it's not that the people expect too much.

But is the question that Gareth Bale didn't give enough

to Real Madrid fans in the second season?

I think it's a fault...

In this sense, it's the fault of Gareth Bale.

For me, the media thing is not a big deal whatsoever.

I think if I'm not playing well, I know myself and I know myself that

I will want to play better and I put myself under pressure to do that.

I think that because Gareth isn't Spanish, because Gareth doesn't

speak Spanish and doesn't engage with the media, I think it makes it

almost too easy for them when things go wrong for him to be attacked.

I think there are some Spanish players who are protected

a little more.

I also think there is an inescapable reality, which is that Gareth Bale

is the most expensive player in footballing history

and that brings with it enormous demands.

It's natural that people don't just want to be very good indeed,

they want to be absolutely fantastic.

Keeping the fans happy, Spanish-style.

But doubts tend to hang around.

The rumours started that there was friction between the Welshman

and the Portuguese megastar, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Inside the locker room, for Real Madrid,

you cannot find many Ronaldo friends.

I mean... Because Ronaldo is like an independent republic

inside the locker room.

Probably he has only one or two close friends, not many.

The media tries to create something that's not there and we've said

many times, both of us, that we get on fine, we get on well.

The most important thing is the football, and we try

and win games and trophies.

There was a great comment from Cristiano Ronaldo earlier

this year when he was asked about the way that Neymar,

Suarez and Messi get on, and they are clearly very good friends.

Why doesn't this happen with Bale, Benzemar and Ronaldo?

And he said, "We don't need little hugs and kisses to prove that we get on."

I think Gareth has had to learn the hard way.

I think that, last year, in Madrid, and going through that

experience of the fans being a little bit up and down

after being so pro-Gareth, I think he would have grown

as a player and as a man, really.

The game of contrasts -

white and red, struggle and glory,

Spain and Wales.

Thinking of home can help.

I always had the thought that I had an opportunity two, three weeks,

whatever it was, to go back and play for Wales

and that always sustained me when sometimes I was out there

and wasn't playing particularly well or there was a bit of press

going against you, which at times it has gone against Gareth as well.

I always had that thing in the back of my mind -

I've got a Welsh game coming up and it should get me back on track.

And it's not just home for the big occasion. Little surprise visits.

-Who's probably hit the best shots that you can think of?

-Bale.

'Of course, you always miss home. Home is home,

'and you can never change that.

'Whenever I get the chance to go home, I always do.'

-Right, guys?

-THEY GASP

D'you mind if I join in?

It's something I enjoy doing, I like giving back to the community.

It is great to see kids obviously enjoying their football.

If I can help in any way, that is what I try to do.

I think, when he meets up with the international boys,

no-one there thinks, "Oh, my God, it is

"Gareth Bale, the superstar who plays for Real Madrid."

You'd think he played down the road for Cardiff City or Swansea City,

that is just how he is, he is very down to earth.

That is a difficult thing because I think

when you have amazing things happen to you, like playing for one

of the best clubs in the world, playing in the Premier League,

those kind of things can change you as a person.

But not him.

Back to the more straightforward story of qualifying for the Euros.

Or was it?

A win in Zenica against Bosnia-Herzegovina

and Wales were through. Simple.

But they lost 2-0...

..and then heard that Cyprus had just won in Jerusalem.

That result in Israel means the celebrations can still start.

Wales will be in France next summer.

Everybody knows how much it means to me to play for Wales and,

yeah, to create history for the country,

and to qualify is obviously something special.

Just for once, there was a game without strain.

The final group game against Andorra in Cardiff.

A qualifier with qualification already settled. Party time.

Low ball into the penalty area. Gareth Bale turns!

-Oh, Gareth Bale...

-COMMENTATOR SPEAKS WELSH

It has been a long process but I think, obviously,

credit goes mostly to Chris Coleman.

I think he has really pushed us on and made us really kick on

and have that belief in ourselves.

Over the years, we have grown together,

we have grown more experienced,

we have got used to how international football is played

and I think that is showing now,

we have got all the experience behind us.

We have all been together for such a long time, we get on really well, we

know each other's games and we all fight for each other on the pitch.

We all feel like brothers,

we all work for each other and the bond we have as a group in the

changing rooms and the hotels is nothing like I have seen before.

I think it is a big reason why we are doing well.

Things to do in football -

safely tuck away a penalty and win the Champions League...again.

This was a performance that had its cramp, its worries for Wales.

But that was consummate and ended a marathon

in Milan with smiles all round.

All is well in Spain.

I am sure he is going to be here for a long time. I hope so.

He can be one of those stars that fans will

remember in the future, for a long time.

That could be fantastic for him and also for the club.

Things to do in football -

play for your country in the finals of a major championship.

And hang on every name coming out of the draw.

L'Angleterre.

In pot number one...

-..Angleterre.

-England.

-Wales.

-Oh!

Wales...

Russia and Slovakia came out of the hat too.

But the second round in Group B comes with a tingle.

Wales against England.

In the old coal city of Lens.

There's a shot by Harry Kane!

That's four for England.

Probably the biggest game in the tournament so far.

I think if you're looking at the fixture list,

yeah, one we are all excited for.

We know it is going to be a difficult game,

England are a very good side, as well as ourselves.

We will be going into it looking forward to it,

trying to enjoy it and hopefully we can get the win.

Lens, not too far into France, beyond the Channel Tunnel,

where England will have to contain Gareth Bale.

I don't know how they are going to cope with him.

I imagine this is a conversation that most clubs have had over

a number of years.

Because he is not just quick and strong,

because he has the ability to hit shots from 25, 30 yards,

he can adapt his game to any way of trying to stop him.

Bale all the way!

Never in doubt.

So, erm, I am really not sure, actually!

I worry for them a little bit, now I have just spoken about it!

The taming of the Bale. If you can't beat him...

Look, there is a very easy way to get me to play for your team.

How?

Support Wales.

Can't do any worse than England.

Support Wales?

Gareth, I am a proud Englishman. Support Wales!

I haven't heard anything so preposterous in my life.

Three lions on a shirt, mate, that's me.

Gareth? I was only joking.

Ten years on, from the youngest ever at that time,

to the guiding light of his age.

Just how big dare we dream?

For Wales, it will be more difficult to be competitive

but he has brought his nation to play the European Cup

and I think Bale can do a fantastic Euro.

He is a special player and he can make the difference in any game.

Suddenly Gareth gets on it and, bang, 25, 30 yards,

he can pick one out in the top corner.

Or go and beat two or three players, he can change everything

in a flash.

To have that in your team is a real bonus.

He will be seen as one of the major players in the tournament, I'm sure.

He is one of the top five or six best players in the world, for me.

Everyone is going to be looking to him in the tournament, to see

what he does.

Every single training session and every game,

there's definitely a Gareth Bale moment where you just think, "Wow!"

He is superhuman at times.

It's nice to be on the same pitch as him sometimes.

When you think back to some of the things he's done with Wales,

some of the games he's played, some of the goals he's scored,

it is unbelievable. He is the top level.

He is one of the best players in the world.

I think it depends on how that Wales team play to his strengths.

If they can just get the ball to him as much as they can

and defend as well as they can, Gareth will do the rest.

He could light the Euros up.

If he gets space and he gets time to run at the opposition,

whether it is England, where it is Barcelona,

whether it is whoever, Gareth Bale can win any game of football

because he is a genius.

We're not going there just to make up the numbers,

we want to win every game that we play,

we want to win the group, we want to give ourselves the best chance.

No matter who we play, we feel confident in our abilities,

that we can win, and we'll go out there to try and do that.